In a rapidly changing industrial environment, where efficiency, reliability, and sustainability have become key priorities, lubricating greases are a crucial element for those working with machinery, bearings, and moving components. Now more than ever, understanding their composition, functionality and development trends is critical to meeting new technological and environmental challenges.

At Pakelo, we are constantly striving to meet the needs of the market and the ecological transition by offering cutting-edge lubricant solutions designed to deliver high performance while respecting the environment.

Let’s explore why lubricating greases are no longer just a technical choice but a true strategic factor in modern maintenance.

A grease is a semi-solid lubricant used to reduce friction and wear between moving surfaces. Numerous types are available on the market, from generic greases to those specifically formulated for certain performance requirements, and their differences often stem from the manufacturing process used to achieve optimal performance.
Lubricating greases are composed of three main elements:
- base oil of mineral or synthetic origin that determines its properties
- thickener that provides its consistency
- mixture of additives that gives the performance-enhancing characteristics
Lubricating greases may seem like lubricating oils but, in fact, the main difference between them is their physical state: oils being liquid require a closed system while greases are semi-solid and can also be used in open systems.

The properties of lubricating grease can be summarized in seven key points:

1. Consistency (grade): which is a measure of the hardness of the grease.
2. Oxidation resistance and dropping point: indicating the grease's ability to withstand high temperatures while maintaining its characteristics over a wide temperature range.
3. Adhesiveness: the characteristic that ensures persistence of grease on surfaces.
4. Corrosion protection and washout resistance: the ability of the grease to resist to water.
5. Low-temperature creep: for applications in outdoor environments subject to cold temperatures.
6. Oil separation: indicating the tendency to release base oil over time.
7. Mechanical stability: the resistance to change in consistency even with high mechanical stress.