ABSTRACT
The review on bio-based greases contains 58 references. Biobased grease is part of the lubricant market, and will likely grow considerably due to economic, environmental, and legislative factors. There are several factors to consider when formulating a biobased grease. The lubricating base uid, the thickener, and property enhancing additives all need to be tailored for an individual application. For example, the choice of the metal cation in the thickener is especially important in extreme pressure and temperature conditions. If a biobased soap stock is used, the fatty acid chain length and cation choice are the main factors to consider. Greases can be tested by a variety of methods, and should be evaluated for oxidative stability, rheology, low temperature properties, friction and wear properties, and hardness. Using these tests, it is possible to formulate acceptable biobased grease as a petroleum grease replacement with the possibility of improved lubrication properties.
