Natural oil based grease compositions and processes for making such compositions

A process for preparing a simple grease composition comprising the steps of:

• (a) adding from 1 to 30 weight percent of a thickener component comprising one or more of (i) one or more natural oil derivatives, (ii) one or more hydrogenated metathesized natural oils and/or natural oil derivatives, (iii) one or more amidated metathesized natural oils and/or natural oil derivatives, (iv) one or more carboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof, to from 50 to 99 weight percent of a lubricating base oil, and charging this mixture to a kettle, mixer or equivalent vessel;
• (b) heating the mixture from step (a) to a temperature between about 140° F. to 200° F. for approximately 30-60 minutes, in order to dissolve the one or more carboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof into the lubricating base oil;
• (c) charging one or more of a metal base compound to the kettle, mixer or equivalent vessel, in an amount slightly in excess of the stoichiometric amount required to neutralize the one or more carboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof;
• (d) maintaining the conditions of step (c) at a temperature between about 190° F. to about 270° F. for approximately 30-90 minutes to complete the neutralization and to effect a substantial dehydration of the mixture of step (c);
• (e) heating the mixture from step (d) to about 350° F. to about 430° F. for up to approximately 60 minutes;
• (f) cooling the mixture from step (e) with the assistance of incorporating an additional amount of the lubricating base oil and the removal of heat, to yield the simple grease composition;
• and
• (g) adding from 1 to 15 weight percent of one or more optional additives to the simple grease composition.

A process for preparing a complex grease composition comprising the steps of:

• (a) adding from 1 to 30 weight percent of a thickener component comprising one or more of (i) one or more natural oil derivatives, (ii) one or more hydrogenated metathesized natural oils and/or natural oil derivatives, (iii) one or more amidated metathesized natural oils and/or natural oil derivatives, (iv) two or more carboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof, to from 50 to 99 weight percent of a lubricating base oil, and charging this mixture to a kettle, mixer or equivalent vessel;
• (b) heating the mixture from step (a) to a temperature between about 140° F. to 200° F. for approximately 30-60 minutes, in order to dissolve the two or more carboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof into the lubricating base oil;
• (c) charging one or more of a metal base compound to the kettle, mixer or equivalent vessel, in an amount slightly in excess of the stoichiometric amount required to neutralize the two or more carboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof;
• (d) maintaining the conditions of step (c) at a temperature between about 190° F. to about 270° F. for approximately 30-90 minutes to complete the neutralization and to effect a substantial dehydration of the mixture of step (c);
• (e) heating the mixture from step (d) to about 350° F. to about 430° F. for up to approximately 60 minutes;
• (f) cooling the mixture from step (e) with the assistance of incorporating an additional amount of the lubricating base oil and the removal of heat, to yield the grease composition;
• and
• (g) adding from 1 to 15 weight percent of one or more optional additives to the grease composition.

A grease composition comprising:

• (d) from 89 to 93 weight percent of a lubricating base oil,
• (e) from 6 to 11 weight percent of a thickener component comprising one or more of (i) one or more natural oil derivatives, (ii) one or more hydrogenated metathesized natural oils and/or natural oil derivatives, (iii) one or more amidated metathesized natural oils and/or natural oil derivatives, (iv) one or more carboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof, and (v) one or more of a metal base compound;
• and
• (f) from 1 to 15 weight percent of one or more optional additives selected from the group consisting of:
• metal deactivators, antioxidants, antiwear agents, rust inhibitors, viscosity modifiers, extreme pressure agents, and corrosion inhibitors.