How to choose suitable bearing grease to improve lubrication effect

2025-03-10

1. Basic characteristics of Bearing Grease :

Grease is a dispersion of a thickener in a base oil. The oil component generally affects the temperature stability of the compound, while the addition of thickeners gives the grease special properties such as electrical and thermal conductivity . Grease, such as aluminium complex grease, works by reducing the coefficient of friction at the interface between two or more parts. It is often used as a Gear Grease and to protect bearings.

Schematic diagram: Apply grease to ball bearings

Uses of aluminium bearing grease：

Food grade aluminium grease(FRTLUBE Food Grade Bearing Grease)is primarily used as a lubricant to reduce wear and extend part life by reducing friction, which reduces mechanical wear and heat buildup. It can be used as a pulley bearing grease, or you can use aluminium-base grease for door hinges. This low-Friction Grease has a soft, smooth texture and features a low NLGI consistency number determined by measuring the working penetration range.

2. Comparison of needle penetration for hard grease and soft grease

1. Definition and significance of needle penetration

Needle penetration: Needle penetration refers to the depth (in units of 0.1 mm) of a needle of a specific weight inserted into the grease surface after 5 seconds under standard conditions. It is a quantitative indicator of grease consistency.

Comparison of grease working penetration bearing grease penetration

Hard grease: A smaller needle penetration (such as below 265) indicates that the grease is harder and has a higher viscosity.

Soft grease: A larger needle penetration (such as above 355) means that the grease is softer and has good fluidity.

2. Comparison between hard grease and soft grease

Characteristic	Hard grease (small penetration)	Soft grease (high penetration)
Consistency	High, hard	Low, soft
Liquidity	Difference	good
Applicable speed	Low speed	High speed
Applicable load	High load	Low load
Temperature	High temperature	Low temperature
Retention	Good, low replenishment frequency	Poor, need frequent replenishment
Lubrication effect	Strong compression and wear resistance	Good permeability and low friction heat

3. How to choose the bearing grease

PTFE grease,white grease,high vacuum grease

When using white aluminium complex grease for bearings, it is necessary to select the appropriate penetration according to the specific working conditions:

* High-speed rotating bearings: Choose soft grease (with larger needle penetration) to reduce friction heat and avoid overheating.

* Heavy-loaded, low-speed bearings: Choose hard grease (lower penetration) to provide better pressure resistance and protection against grease loss.

* Temperature factor: Choose hard grease for high temperature environment and soft grease for low temperature environment.

* Comprehensive consideration: Speed, load, temperature and other factors need to be comprehensively evaluated to ensure lubrication effect and bearing life.

4. Conclusion

The penetration of aluminium bearing grease has a significant effect on the lubrication effect of the bearing. Hard grease (small penetration) is suitable for high load, high temperature and low speed environment, providing excellent pressure resistance and wear resistance; soft grease (large penetration) is suitable for low load, high speed and low temperature environment, and has good fluidity and permeability. In practical applications, appropriate grease should be selected according to the specific working conditions of the bearing to optimize the lubrication effect and extend the service life of the bearing.