Why lithium or lithium complex grease?

Lithium greases make up over 75% of all manufactured thickeners - it now dominates the industrial grease and automotive grease market. What is it about Lithium specifically that makes it so special? In this video, we look at the chemistry of turning a metal hydroxide into a lithium soap, and how complexing agents make a lithium complex more shear stable and able to perform at high operating temperatures than a simple lithium grease.
Here at Lubrication Expert we take a first-principles approach to lubricants and greases; helping industry understand lubrication technology and pushing the limits of what is possible.
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[@sm7091bs]

I have to give you a big compliment for the explanation about lubrication, oils or grease. The you "simplify" it makes it easier to understand

[@LubricationExplained]

Thanks so much! That’s very kind.

[@1wisestein]

Gonna have to rewatch this a few times but I'm very glad someone (you) gave the topic its due such that when I searched for "lithium grease explained" I got a thorough, molecular explanation. It's stuff like this that makes me appreciate having taken organic chemistry. Gives me a discerning advantage when choosing products and sifting through BS.

[@LubricationExplained]

Happy to help out - lubricants is such an awesome blend of organic/inorganic chemistry, plus fluid physics, plus mechanical engineering.

[@user-ht9hv2fk5q]

I have 10 lubricant making formulas at a symbolic price

[@HiwasseeRiver]

Odd story for you: I worked at a plant that made Li compounds included in LiOH. One of the grease formulators required us to package the LiOH in very specific bags that they provided. Since LiOH is very unpleasant to handle they designed a bag made of a material and printed in an ink that was compatible with the grease formulations. At the point of use the formulators simply chunked in the whole bag without opening it thus preventing exposure to the LiOH dust. Good video - thanks

[@LubricationExplained]

Thanks for the story!

[@NoExceptions109]

For real, thank you for these vids. I didn't know how little I knew about grease until I had to choose one for my project. Easy to understand especially coming from another grease video from 'Hugh Bug' on KZbin. Definitely recommend other people check out that grease video and come back to your channel for more in depth information.

[@syedmuhammadnadeem7905]

This is pure chemistry.........for a common man, tell us how to make lithium grease simple formulation.

[@LubricationExplained]

Thanks!

[@slavik2000]

Thank you so much for making this video!! It helped me understand this not very clear subject.

[@LubricationExplained]

Thanks so much for the feedback!

[@hanynowsky]

Great vid. Hoping for a table that matches the grease type with the target object. Example: Silicone - rubber, plastic, low and slow load friction... Lithium - stressed gears Complex lithium - high temp stressed gears

[@timellis4811]

Great Video and easy to understand.

[@LubricationExplained]

Thanks! Glad it helped 🙂

[@Dr.Scorpio]

Super brilliant video and explanation. Thanks a million.

[@LubricationExplained]

Thanks!

[@MikeyAlbertin]

Thanks for the information. Man so many greases and thickeners to choose from.

[@LubricationExplained]

Thanks! And yes, there are so many - with more and more coming to the market all the time.

[@user-ht9hv2fk5q]

I have 10 lubricant making formulas at a symbolic price

[@upuldhanushkagajanayake2719]

Thanks a lot

[@Shepherd4now]

This video is great! I couldn't find anything else that comes close to what I was looking for, so thank you. I just subscribed and I'm going to have to catch up and watch a bunch more of your videos. What I'm still trying to understand is why Lucas Oil lithium grease dries out so quickly. It's an indoor environment with AC and the manufacturer suggests using white lithium grease (possibly only because it is so widely available). The grease is not exposed to high heat or pressure, but does see frequent movement (use) and might occasionally be exposed to mist. I have trouble with the grease drying out and leaving behind an off white looking soap scum that actually CAUSES friction. I have recently been trying Super Lube multi-purpose synthetic grease and it seems to be working much much better. Any input on why the white lithium may have been drying and why this new grease seems to work better?

[@LubricationExplained]

Interesting. "Drying out" of grease generally only happens under two conditions; extreme stress (which doesn't sound like your situation) and cross-contamination with an incompatible grease. What's the application you're using it in?

[@Shepherd4now]

@@LubricationExplained Thanks for the response. I never actually got notified, but I noticed before that you respond to comments and just came back to see if you did and here it is! I work maintenance in gyms with a major worldwide brand of equipment. Most of the lubrication scenarios I deal with are being dealt with fine, but I have a lot of issues with exposed shafts and linear ball bearings that slide on these shafts. The shafts are high quality chrome plated and the bearings are high quality that seem to be of much higher quality than needed for our application. The problem I have is that these shafts often end up rusting, in less than a year even sometimes, and the bearings quickly lose their factory grease. I know this is mostly an environmental problem, probably caused by users and staff wiping down the equipment, but I can't change that and need to solve this through maintenance. Official protocol is to occasionally lubricate the shafts with white lithium grease and whenever the bars become sticky with any sort of scum, to use 3 in 1 to clean that away. Personally, I'll walk a gym and feel the bars to see what need attention and it seems most of these bars need that about once a month. I'm feeling for either 1] dry sticky (from dried lithium) 2] dry but tacky black (unknown cause) 3] dry but no residue, or 4] just right (finger slides easily but not apparently wet, like touching your nose then sliding your finger on a clean granite countertop). It's unlikely I'd ever feel a shaft that was obviously lubed unless I just put it on the day before or something. If I encounter either of the dirty scenarios I will clean the bars with 3 in 1 on a towel, wipe that off, then use the lithium grease. If it's just dry I'll use the lithium grease. Spec says they will likely need grease 4 times a year, but it's rare I have anything that can last that long. Most needs lubrication monthly. We use a 30 weight non-detergent oil for other things and will use this occasionally on neglected bearing shafts when we need to get some lubrication into the assembly better. I'm aware that 3 in 1 is the devil as far as lubrication is concerned, but it seems to be a good cleaner. Am I wrong? Do you think it is causing the white lithium grease to dry or did something else in my (essay long) response strike you as problematic? The synthetic multi-purpose grease seems to be working 1000% better but it's only been a few weeks and it's too early to draw a conclusion.

[@ryanburbridge]

Thanks again. So how do we as consumers figure out what is actually being used in the grease we see on the suppliers shelves?

[@LubricationExplained]

It’s certainly not easy. As a general rule if it says “Lithium Grease” on the label, it’s a simple Lithium. If it’s a complex grease then it will be clearly stated. Comparing grease quality is difficult without hard data, but the product data sheet should give some quantitative measurements around dropping point, four ball wear and extremes pressure tests, and bomb oxidation. Those should give indications of high temperature performance, wear protection and oxidative stability respectively.

[@user-mg3pn5uc7o]

Nice.

[@tuanhieunguyen3520]

Thanks for video, Can you explain the meaning of P, F, G, VG in the strengths and weaknesses of the section at 9:16 in this video

[@LubricationExplained]

Ahh yes, that should have been more clear. P = Poor, F = Fair, G = Good, VG = Very Good. They're not very defined, it's more a pointer toward general performance in use.

[@petermolnar8667]

What would be the typical drop point of a simple vs complex Lithium based grease? (Just as a quick way of telling them apart when I look at the data sheet)

[@LubricationExplained]

Varies depending on quality but there's usually a 60C or so difference between a Lithium Simple vs Complex.

[@sarhanefrioua3527]

Can you help me plz ?how make a lithium grease ? (Process of production )

[@LubricationExplained]

Unfortunately I'm not a production expert. Sorry, but that's really out of my personal realm of knowledge.

[@xabysebastian529]

So complex type only provides higher heat tolerance but no water resistance improvement?

[@LubricationExplained]

Great question! Essentially yes, because water resistance is mostly determined by the metal salt’s solubility in water. However, it should be stressed that water resistance can be slightly enhanced by the use of polymer additives, and these are more likely to be found in complex greases as they tend to be marketed as more “premium” products.

[@manvindersinghsingh1930]

Iwant mobilgrease nlgi2 lithum complex 400grm

[@manvindersinghsingh1930]

How can contect

[@LubricationExplained]

[e-mail], but I don't sell any products.

[@user-ht9hv2fk5q]

I have 10 lubricant making formulas at a symbolic price