US 8,618,028 B2 · Fire resistant lubricating grease composition

Abstract

Fire resistant lubricating grease compositions resistant to self ignition and/or capable of self extinguishment when contacted with surfaces having temperatures of up to 900° C. are disclosed. The invention provides for grease compositions comprising (1) base oil (which can be mineral, vegetable, synthetic or combinations thereof), (2) at least one grease thickener (selected from calcium sulfonates or lithium-based soaps), and (3) water as major components. The invention also provides a method for the preparation of the grease composition and a method for lubrication of bearings, gears, surfaces and other lubricated components comprising use of the grease composition of the present invention. The grease compositions of this invention display excellent fire resistance properties and still have outstanding physical and performance characteristics for applications where temperatures and loads are high, shock loading is significant and in the presence of significant amounts of water.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An as manufactured fire resistant lubricating grease composition comprising:

(1) base oil in the range of 20 to 80 weight percent,
(2) at least one grease thickener, selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfonates and lithium-based soaps in a total amount in the range of 20 to 80 weight percent, and
(3) water at a concentration in the range of 5 to 20 weight percent,
wherein the composition is resistant to self-ignition and/or capable of self-extinguishment when contacted with surfaces having temperatures of up to 900° C.

1 more element

A method for the manufacture of a fire resistant lubricating grease composition comprising the following procedure:

a) providing base oil and at least one grease thickener and subjecting these components to a blending procedure comprising mixing and milling,
b) adding water in increments and mixing, and optionally milling, the water with the components already present,
c) optionally, adding additional water in increments and mixing, and optionally milling, the water with the components already present,
d) optionally adding at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of solid lubricants, water binding agents, additional grease additives and combinations thereof and mixing, and optionally milling, these additional components with the components already present, and
e) homogenizing all the components in the product composition from the preceding steps,
wherein the composition is resistant to self-ignition and/or capable of self-extinguishment when contacted with surfaces having temperatures of up to 900° C., and
wherein the product composition comprises (1) base oil in the range of 20 to 80 weight percent, (2) at least one grease thickener, selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfonates and lithium-based soaps in a total amount in the range of 20 to 80 weight percent, and (3) water at a concentration in the range of 5 to 20 weight percent.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fire resistant lubricating grease composition

Life of this patent

Fire resistant lubricating grease composition

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25