Biogenic palm oil-based greases with glycerol monostearate and soy wax: A rheological and tribological study

Abstract

The increasing environmental concerns associated with conventional lubricants have led to a growing interest in sustainable alternatives, particularly biogenic grease. This study introduces a novel approach to synthesizing and characterizing fully biodegradable greases using palm oil as the base oil and renewable biothickeners, namely glycerol monostearate (GMS) and soywax (SW). The innovation lies in utilizing the distinct properties of these biothickeners to optimize the grease structure and performance for industrial applications. GMS enhances the consistency and mechanical stability, while SW controls the elasticity and oil bleeding. Rheological analysis shows that GMS exhibits the thickening capabilities at room temperature (RT) to achieve common grease consistencies, while SW enhances elasticity, achieving a unique balance of firmness and flexibility. Thermal analysis indicates that GMS-based greases had higher thermal stability, while SW enhance low-temperature performance. Tribological testing reveals a reduction in friction and wear, with an earlier transition to the mixed lubrication regime compared to a reference commercial grease (CG). Under boundary lubrication, GMS-based samples perform better than the CG, particularly under higher contact pressures. In contrast, SW-based formulations demonstrate better lubrication at lower contact pressures. In fluid friction regimes, almost all bio-based samples outperform the CG, showing potential for high-speed applications. When tested in angular contact ball bearings under oscillating motion (a typical moderate temperature application), the bio-greases show decent results in preventing false brinelling. This study highlights the potential of these eco-friendly formulations as a viable alternative to conventional greases.