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  • Can I add a Pour point Depressent to a finished grease?

    Posted by Tania Juarez on 26 January 2023 at 1:18 pm

    Just a Question, Can I add a Pour point Depressent to a finished grease in order to improve performance at low temperature?

    Tania Juarez replied 1 year, 10 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Rafe Britton

    Administrator
    30 January 2023 at 3:23 pm

    Hi @Tania.bkt ! What’s the issue that you’re facing at low temperatures? Typically it is the thickener that becomes too thick (which isn’t solved by adding a PPD). I’d be hesitant to add any additives to a grease after it has been formulated, as the manufacturing process usually requires the additive mixing in a very controlled environment.

  • Tania Juarez

    Member
    31 January 2023 at 1:05 am

    Hi Rafe, well I have a lithium grease tha is certificated by NLGI LB, and one of the test that the grease must fulfill is ASTM D4693 Low Temperature Torque @40°C 60 second Torque, the max. specitification is 15.5 N-m. Our grease is using Group I and the restult is 16.32 N-m. I think the best option is to chenge the type of basic oil but I just wander if adding PPD could help to improve the behavior of the grease to fulfil this test at low temperature.

    • Rafe Britton

      Administrator
      2 February 2023 at 3:11 pm

      Ahh – I see what you mean now. It really depends on the cold-temperature behaviour of the base oil as to whether a PPD will make any difference. PPDs inhibit wax crystal growth – if these crystals are emerging at -40C than the PPD would potentially make a difference to the cold flow properties. However, I’m not sure about blending it in to a fully-formulated grease. PPD’s are an additive that require heat blending into lubricant formulations, so I’m not sure how you’d get the homogenized in the correct way in an already-manufactured grease.

      • Tania Juarez

        Member
        6 February 2023 at 12:40 pm

        I appreciate your response, I will make some experiments about it!

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