Biodegradable vegetable oil grease

A process for preparing an environmentally friendly grease, comprising the steps of

• (a) mixing (A) a base oil wherein the base oil is a natural oil or synthetic triglyceride of the formula ##STR5## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are aliphatic groups that contain from about 7 to about 23 carbon atoms, (B1) a metal based material wherein the metal based material comprises a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate or metal bicarbonate wherein the metal is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and (B2) a carboxylic acid or its ester, wherein the carboxylic acid is of the formula R.sup.4 (COOR.sup.5).sub.n wherein R.sup.4 is an aliphatic group that contains from 4 to about 29 carbon atoms, R.sup.5 is hydrogen or an aliphatic group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from 1 to 4, wherein the equivalent ratio of (B1):(B2) is from about 1:0.70-1.10 and wherein the weight ratio of the base oil to the sum of the metal based material and the carboxylic acid is from 50:50 to 95:5, thereby providing a mixture;
• (b) heating said mixture to a temperature of from about 82.degree. to about 105.degree. C. to form (B);
• (c) heating the mixture to a final temperature of about 145.degree. C. for an alkaline metal or to about 200.degree. C. for an alkali metal;
• and
• (d) cooling the mixture to form a grease.

A process for preparing an environmentally friendly grease, comprising the steps of

• (a) mixing a first portion of (A) a base oil wherein the base oil is a natural oil or synthetic triglyceride of the formula ##STR6## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are aliphatic groups that contain from about 7 to about 23 carbon atoms, (B1) a metal based material wherein the metal based material comprises a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate or metal bicarbonate wherein the metal is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and (B2) a carboxylic acid or its ester, wherein the carboxylic acid is of the formula R.sup.4 (COOR.sup.5).sub.n wherein R.sup.4 is an aliphatic group that contains from 4 to about 29 carbon atoms, R.sup.5 is hydrogen or an aliphatic group that contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from 1 to 4, wherein the equivalent ratio of (B1):(B2) is from about 1:0.70-1.10;
• thereby providing a first mixture;
• (b) heating said first mixture to a temperature of from about 82.degree. to about 105.degree. C. to form (B), thereby providing a first heated mixture;
• (c) heating the first heated mixture to a final temperature of about 145.degree. C. for an alkaline metal or to about 200.degree. C. for an alkali metal;
• (d) adding at 110.degree.-145.degree. C. for an alkaline earth metal or 170.degree.-200.degree. C. for an alkali metal, subsequent portions of (A) said base oil wherein the weight ration of the first portion of the base oil to the second portion of the base oil is from 50:50 to 95:5, and wherein the weight ratio of the base oil to the sum of the metal based material and the carboxylic acid is from 50:50 to 95:5, to provide a second mixture;
• and
• (e) permitting this mixture to cool to form a grease.