What components are within grease lubricant?

Industrial Lubrication FAQ Question #1

Different types of greases are typically formulated with three grease components: base oil, thickener, and additives.

• The base oil lubricates, reducing friction between moving surfaces; this is exactly the same role that the base oil plays in a lubricant oil.

• The thickener acts like a sponge; its job is to hold oil in reserve until needed to lubricate. The thickener responds to external forces such as movement, vibration or temperature as a trigger to release oil.

• The additives supplement the lubricating capability of the base oil, improving upon characteristics such as wear protection and rust prevention.