Greases are semisolids. When solids are rubbed together, heat is generated and at some critical temperature metallic bonds are ruptured and a wear particle is created.

Greases are useful as lubricants because they reduce friction and wear, dampen vibration and noise, seal out contamination including water, remain where applied under rigorous temperature excursion, and serve as oil reservoirs, releasing oil as conditions warrant.

Commodity Greases - usually based on lithium, calcium, or other soaps and including some EP and lithium complex products, are products generally produced in large volumes.

Specialty Greases - designed to meet demanding performance specifications and containing expensive additives and / or solid lubricants, are used in relatively small quantities, but account for as much value usage as moderately priced, high-performance grease.

High-Performance Greases - often based on a complex soap, are frequently manufactured with highly refined or synthetic base oils for more demanding applications that cannot be met with commodity grease products.

The distribution of grease produced by thickener type is quite similar throughout the world, with a clear predominance of lithium soaps over the other type of thickeners.

Lubricating Grease production by base fluid