Load-Carrying Capacity of a Di-Ester Grease With Molybdenum Disulphide Content

Molybdenum disulphide has been used in greases based on other oils, as well as mineral oils and esters, but probably the only other common type is silicone. Silicone greases are usable to over 250°C, but they are poor lubricants under boundary lubrication conditions. Addition of molybdenum disulphide gives a useful 

Some commercial greases have also been produced which are based on a perfluorinated polyether oil with added molybdenum disulphide. They can be used for even higher temperatures than the silicone-based greases, but are much more expensive and would normally only be used on small components. They have the further advantage of excellent resistance to chemical attack. 

The Caterpillar Company has also been quoted as specifying a multipurpose (usually NLGI No 2) molybdenum disulphide grease for its heavy duty products from about 1973. Such greases have also been reported to be more widely used in offroad vehicles, and equipment in the construction industry . In both cases the molybdenum disulphide concentration is between 3% and 5%. 

Another major user is the steel industry, and Jost and Hicks and Forsythe described a wide variety of applications, including crane slewing plates, slideways, run-out table bearings, gears, work-roll bearings and motor bearings. In other industries the variety of applications is indicated by the list in Table 13.8. 

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Table 13.7 Increase in Load-Carrying Capacity of a Di-Ester Grease With Molybdenum Disulphide Content (Data from Ref. 173) (Mean Hertz Load figures obtained by ASTM D-2596 the IP239 method will give results between 10% and 20% higher)...

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