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Making synthetic grease  

Challenges: Manufacturing grease for automotive and industrial markets provides plenty of opportunities and challenges. Greases are complex, multiphase systems that must:

  • Stay in place during intermittent or constant operation
  • Seal against contamination and moisture
  • Lubricate machine elements, such as bearings, gears, slideways and joints

As equipment builders downsize equipment, operating conditions continue to increase in severity (higher loads, higher speeds and temperatures) with lower grease quantities. Grease performance must continue to evolve to extend service life, extend regreasing intervals and reduce maintenance costs.

How we can help: To help you meet and exceed these demands, we provide state-of-the-art synthetic base stocks, including next-generation SpectraSyn Elite™ metallocene polyalphaolefin (mPAO) and Synesstic™ alkylated naphthalene (AN). SpectraSyn Elite mPAO provides higher viscosity index (VI), enhanced film thickness, improved oxidative stability, and a step-change in low-temperature flow and bearing torque requirements compared to industrial and automotive mineral-oil greases. Synesstic AN can improve grease yield and provide even greater thermal and oxidative stability than conventional PAOs (cPAO) or mineral-oil greases.

Lubricant solutions

Formulating grease with mPAO base stocks

Metallocene PAO base stocks offer grease formulators improved performance compared to mineral oil and conventional PAO:

  • Broader operating temperature due to higher viscosity index
  • Improved wear protection via enhanced film thickness
  • Improved grease flow and lower bearing torque at lower temperatures   
reduction in temperature

Formulating grease with alkylated naphthalene

Alkylated naphthalene’s enhanced solvency provides grease formulators with:

  • Improved hydrolytic stability vs. esters
  • Improved yield or thickener efficiency vs. cPAOs
  • Greater oxidative stability and bearing life enhancement vs. cPAOs
less than 30 percent reduction thickener

Market trends

Global grease production has held relatively firm since 2010, with a 0.3% CAGR. We do see growth trends, however, within the grease market.

1. Growth of synthetic base oils

The grease market is approximately 90% mineral oil based. Synthetic base oil currently constitutes 3.5% of the market but has grown by 6% since 2010 to satisfy increasing demand for higher performance. Compared to mineral oil-based grease, synthetic greases provide enhanced performance in wider temperature ranges, at increased operating speeds, under increasing loads and power densities, and in equipment located in more remote areas that require longer product life.

Growth of specialty greases chart

2. Growth of specialty greases

In grease formulations, the more specialized the requirements, the greater the need for high-performance synthetic greases. We continue to see growth in specialized greases, including:

  • Higher temperature greases
  • Longer life greases for sealed bearings
  • Food grade greases
  • Greases with alternate thickeners
  • Greases compatible with generic and customized additive packages
  • Biodegradable greases
Growth of synthetic base oils chart

Inside insights

Explore ways we can help your business.
  • Engineers near computer with basestocks

    Suite of solutions

    Explore the formulation and performance advantages provided by our suite of advanced synthetic base stocks.

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  • mPao base stocks for greases video

    Technical video – mPAO base stocks for synthetic greases

    Get the data on how high-viscosity metallocene polyalphaolefin (mPAO) base stocks offer grease formulators improved performance compared to mineral oil and high-viscosity conventional PAO.

    Watch the video
  • 3 beakers with mpao

    Synovation video – cPAO vs. mPAO

    Compare the performance of conventional and metallocene polyalphaolefin synthetic base stocks.

    Watch the video

Find the answers you need in our library of informative case studies, white papers, factsheets and more.

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Broad portfolio of synthetic base stocks

  • Industrial Mining Shovel with Graphics

    SpectraSyn Elite™ mPAO

    High-viscosity metallocene polyalphaolefin base stock provides high performance at a wide temperature range and exceptional low-temperature properties.

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  • traffic on highway

    SpectraSyn Plus™ PAO

    Advanced low-viscosity synthetic base stock for low volatility and low-temperature fluidity to produce advanced lubricants.

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  • truck taking turn with rolling shutter

    SpectraSyn™ Hi Vis PAO

    High viscosity base stock especially suited for industrial oils requiring high stability under harsh operating conditions.

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  • Cars going through intersection with running shutter

    SpectraSyn™ Low Vis PAO

    Low viscosity base stock offering low-temperature fluidity, low volatility and improved thermal stability.

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  • Industrial Rotary Screw with highlighting

    Synesstic™ AN

    Alkylated naphthalene base stock often used as blend component for additive solvency, seal compatibility and hydrolytic stability.

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  • Airplane taking off at night

    Esterex™ esters

    Organic esters are well-suited as a blend component for additive solvency, seal compatibility or biodegradability.

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Use our selector to find the right base stock product for your needs ›

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