Grease formulations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9556396-B2
Application number	US-74689008-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2008
Priority date	Dec 11, 2007
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A grease formulation containing a thickener and a Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil, in particular a heavy or extra heavy base oil. The use of a Fischer-Tropsch oil results in an increase in thickener concentration and in improved properties such as anti-wear and copper corrosion performance. Also provided is the use of a Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil in a grease formulation, for the purpose of improving its anti-wear and/or copper corrosion performance, and/or for reducing the concentration of an additive in the formulation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grease formulation comprising:
a thickener that comprises a soap, wherein the soap is a metal salt of a C 6 -C 20 fatty acid or a derivative thereof, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum and a combination thereof, and the thickener is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 5 to 20 wt %; and
a base oil comprising a Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil, wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 8 to 25 mm 2 /s and is present in the base oil in an amount of more than 90 wt %, and wherein the base oil is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 60 to 95 wt %.

2. A grease formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 10 to 25 mm 2 /s.

3. A method, comprising: applying a grease formulation to the surfaces of two relatively moving components, wherein the grease formulation comprises:
a thickener that comprises a soap, wherein the soap is a metal salt of a C 6 -C 20 fatty acid or a derivative thereof, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum and a combination thereof, and the thickener is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 5 to 20 wt %; and
a base oil comprising a Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil, wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 8 to 25 mm 2 /s and is present in the base oil in an amount of more than 90 wt %, and wherein the base oil is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 60 to 95 wt %.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 8 to 20 mm 2 /s.

5. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 10 to 25 mm 2 /s.

6. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil is present in the base oil in an amount of 100 wt %.

7. A grease formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil is present in the base oil in an amount of 100 wt %.

8. A grease formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 10 to 25 mm 2 /s.

9. A grease formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the thickener is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 10 to 20 wt %.

10. A grease formulation comprising:
a thickener that comprises a soap, wherein the soap is a metal salt of a C 6 -C 20 fatty acid, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, calcium, aluminum and a combination thereof, and the thickener is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 5 to 20 wt %; and
a base oil comprising a Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil, wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 8 to 25 mm 2 /s and is present in the base oil in an amount of more than 90 wt. %, and wherein the base oil is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 60 to 95 wt %.

11. A grease formulation according to claim 10 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 70 to 95 wt %.

12. A grease formulation according to claim 10 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 80 to 95 wt %.

13. A grease formulation according to claim 10 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 90 to 95 wt %.

14. A grease formulation comprising:
a thickener that comprises a soap, wherein the soap is a metal salt of a C 6 -C 20 fatty acid or a derivative thereof, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, calcium, aluminum and a combination thereof, and the thickener is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 5 to 20 wt %; and
a base oil comprising a non-Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil and a Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil, wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 8 to 25 mm 2 /s, and wherein the non-Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil is present in the base oil in an amount less than 10 wt %, and wherein the base oil is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 60 to 95 wt %.

15. A grease formulation according to claim 14 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 10 to 25 mm 2 /s.

16. A grease formulation according to claim 14 , wherein the thickener is present in the grease formulation in an amount of from 10 to 20 wt %.

17. A grease formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium and a combination thereof.

18. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium and a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Germaine Gilbert Robert Bernard
• Wedlock David John
• Wheatley Alan Richard
• Shell Oil Co

Inventors

• Germaine Gilbert Robert Bernard
• Wedlock David John
• Wheatley Alan Richard

Classifications

• C10N2050/10

  semi-solid; greasy · CPC title

• C10M2207/1285

  used as thickening agents · CPC title

• C10N2030/12

  Inhibition of corrosion, e.g. anti-rust agents or anti-corrosives · CPC title

• C10N2030/10

  Inhibition of oxidation, e.g. anti-oxidants · CPC title

• C10N2030/00

  Specified physical or chemical properties which is improved by the additive characterising the lubricating composition, e.g. multifunctional additives · CPC title