Development greases with improved low temperature properties

UDK: 665.765

Key words: plastic lubricant, low pour point base oil, penetration

Authors: S.A. Antonov, E.V. Kashin, I.V. Pigoleva, I.A. Maslov, M.V. Kitova, S.V.Zaglyadova (United Research and Development Centre LLC, RF, Moscow)

Technical progress in various fields of technology is impossible without the use of high-quality lubricants, their production and application improving. The development of oil, gas and geology sectors are associated with an increase in exploration and production drilling, construction and operation of wells in difficult to reach fields, offshore areas, that require high demands on equipment strength and durability. An important group of lubricants are greases ensuring efficiency of machines and mechanisms in challenging and extreme conditions of operation. Range of grease application is expanded and simultaneously requirements caused by the tightening of conditions for their applications are increased. Equipment is operated at temperature up to -60 °C in cold climate conditions. An urgent task is the development of greases ensuring reliable and uninterrupted equipment operation in low temperatures. Low pour-point base obtained by the developed technology of 280°C-EBR fraction hydroisomerization was used as a dispersion medium to produce greases in this paper. Lithium stearate and lithium 12-hydroxystearate were used as thickeners in grease preparations. The description of the optimal thickening agent content selection in the grease composition is provided. The results of studies of physical-chemical and rheological properties of the prepared samples are described. The developed greases are similar to or superior the greases produced for the regions with a predominance of low temperatures («Zimol-1», «Zimol-2») in general properties and according to the NLGI classification these greases can be attributed to the LA, GA, GB category quality.