Lithium 12-hydroxystearate greases have set a high standard of excellence for multipurpose grease applications. A description is given of recent improvements made in metal wetting and protection against corrosion in the presence of free water. A moderate increase in load carrying properties is also mentioned.
A brief mention is made regarding future multipurpose automotive greases. Several promising high melting organic grease thickeners and nonmelting inorganic grease thickeners are available that should increase the high temperature ceiling of multipurpose automotive greases considerably. A comparison is made between the lithium 12-hydroxystearate greases and a new nonmelting inorganic microgel grease which is currently undergoing field trials as a multipurpose automotive grease.
