Power Transmission Engineering Magazine
www.powertransmission.com/articles/1033-a-model-for-shear-degradation-of-lithium-soap-grease-at-ambient-temperature

A Model for Shear Degradation of Lithium Soap Grease at Ambient Temperature

October 1, 2017
In this study the mechanical shear degradation of lithium-thickened grease was evaluated using an in-house-developed aging rig and a commercial rheometer. It was found that this grease loses its original consistency during aging and shows a two-phase aging behavior. In the first phase, primarily reorientation and breakage of the thickener network take place, resulting in a progressive drop in the grease's rheological properties. After this, the aging is dominated by the breakage of smaller fiber fragments and the grease degrades at a much slower rate.