ILMA Compoundings - May 2019 - 32

aren't the 'right' color. If the new shipment of grease isn't the
same shade of red as the last one, they assume there must be
something wrong with the grease. This means manufacturers
need to be careful in their process to use the right dyes, in
the right amounts, to avoid issues like that."
A company's color range can help build customer
familiarity and loyalty. At the same time, that means "color
may be an issue if trying to switch a customer from another
brand," Kaperick continued. Winning new customers to
your range of colored greases might require educating potential customers on the differences.
"If the one they're using is red," he said, "switching to a
blue grease may confuse the lube guys who'll be using it. You
also need to convince them that the blue grease is as good
or better in the critical performance areas - for example,
protecting against wear, corrosion, oxidation - even though
it's not the same color."
Finally, it might be challenging to sell a grease that differs
too much in color from what a customer expects.
"In heavy-duty applications, such as mining, it's common
for the original equipment manufacturer to specify that the

grease should contain molybdenum disulfide, often at 3 percent
or 5 percent by weight," Kaperick said. "This component
is a solid lubricant that can provide good protection under
extreme pressure conditions, but it is also black and will make
the grease it goes into black. I think this has led the industry
to believe that, in general, heavy-duty greases need to be
black, even though it might be possible to provide the same
level of protection with a different-colored grease."

HIDDEN GOLD (AND GREEN AND ...)
"People know that the grease in the machine does its job,"
Grimes pointed out, "but, beyond that, it's sometimes
forgotten because it's hidden. The only thing people do get
used to is what it looks like before it gets in the machine.
"When I came to Lubrication Engineers, I wanted to
make grease more exciting and fun. So, we've spent a lot of
time seeing what we could do to enhance the elements of
color and texture. There's a lot more going on with grease
than just making it and putting it in a machine."
Bittner is a Michigan-based freelance journalist and a frequent
Compoundings contributor.

INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS

Lubricants
& Metal
Working
Fluids

Application: Automotive Crankcase Lubricants and Metalworking Fluids
Recommendation: IRGANOX® L 64 High-Performance Antioxidant Blend
*
*
*
*

Protects against high temperature oxidation in engine oils
Reduces sludge formation
Contains no diluents
Approved by FDA/NSF

Monson, an Azelis company, is the best partner to solve your formulation needs.
For more information or a sample, visit www.monsonco.com/irganoxL64

visit azelis.com/americas

MAY 2019

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

http://www.monsonco.com/irganoxL64 http://www.azelis.com/americas http://www.ILMA.ORG

ILMA Compoundings - May 2019

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