Development and Properties Test of Aluminum Grease for Low Velocity Applications.

This work considers the use of palm kernel oil for the production of bio-based lubricant. Laboratory scale quantities of aluminium grease were produced by saponification reaction through dissolving soaps made from different percentage of fats and palm kernel oil and saponified with calculated quantity of caustic soda in lubricating oil (SAE 20-50). These were later converted to aluminium soap using aluminium chloride solution prepared from reacting aluminium chips with dilute hydrochloric acid. Aluminium lubricating grease produced were subjected to physical characterisation tests such as relative density, melting temperature range and solubility in water. The results of Oando and Texaco conventional grease were used as control experiment having the same properties produced from 40% fat, 60% PKO, and having 30% soap in lubricating oil. The density of this particular sample is 0.98 and the melting range is 380C to 640C, while the solubility (percentage of grease dissolved) is 20%. Results also indicated that future research can improve temperature resistant in sodium soap grease