Greases are a lubricant composed of a petroleum-derived or synthetic oil
thickened
with a soap or thickening agent to a solid or semi fluid consistency. Grease
oil is
widely used as a lubrication oil for rolling-element bearings, gears, and
many other
tribo-components.
Lubricating grease oil is usually formed out of the following components
that help
keep it in a semi-solid state:
Thickener – 5% to 20%
Base oil – 80% to 95%
Additives – 0% to 10%
All three of these ingredients in grease oil have different purposes. For
instance,
the thickeners are the lubricants reducing friction between moving surfaces.
Thickeners in greases like soap hold oil in reserve until it’s needed to
lubricate.
So when they are exposed to movement such as vibrations or a change in
temperature,
they are triggered to release oil.