Urea-Polymer Grease Composition for Oil Retention and Low Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grease compositions for lubricating rolling bearings and gears lack effective oil retention properties and fail to reduce torque efficiently, which is essential for energy conservation and high efficiency in these applications.
Innovation Solution
A grease composition comprising a base oil and a thickener that includes a urea compound and a styrene-based polymer, where the styrene-based polymer content is between 2% to 30% by mass, and the thickener particles with diameters of 0.2 μm or more have an average diameter of 0.2 μm to 1.0 μm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional grease compositions are used, then basic lubrication is provided, but oil retention properties are insufficient and torque reduction is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite thickener system combining urea compound particles (0.2-10 μm) with specific surface area (0.01-0.5 m²/g) and a polymer compound, creating a multi-component thickener structure. This composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of excellent oil retention properties through the urea compound's particle characteristics and effective torque reduction through the polymer compound's lubrication effects, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent precisely controls critical parameters including urea compound particle diameter (0.2-10 μm), specific surface area (0.01-0.5 m²/g), and content ratios (urea compound 1-50 parts by mass, polymer compound 1-40 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of lubricating oil). By optimizing these parameters, the grease composition achieves both superior oil retention and low torque properties, effectively resolving the technical contradiction between reliability and energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If thickener content is increased to improve oil retention, then oil retention properties improve, but torque properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a synergistic composite thickener system where urea compound particles (providing oil retention through controlled particle size and surface area) work in combination with polymer compounds (providing torque reduction through lubrication). This composite structure allows the grease to maintain optimal thickener content while achieving both high oil retention and low torque, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent assigns different functional roles to different components: the urea compound particles (with specific size and surface area characteristics) primarily provide oil retention, while the polymer compound primarily provides torque reduction. This functional differentiation within the thickener system allows each component to excel at its specific function without compromising the other, effectively resolving the contradiction between oil retention and torque properties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The grease composition achieves excellent oil retention properties and ensures low torque performance when used with rolling bearings and gears, thereby enhancing lubrication efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
carrying out reaction of the amine compound and the isocyanate compound, such that a third blended solution containing the styrene-based polymer and the urea compound is generated
Implementation Method 2
dissolving or dispersing the styrene-based polymer in one or both of the first solvent and the second solvent
Data Source
AI summary
A grease composition includes a base oil and a thickener. The thickener contains a urea compound and a styrene-based polymer. A content of the styrene-based polymer is 2% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less as to a total amount of the urea compound and the styrene-based polymer. In the thickener, an average value of diameter of particles with a diameter of 0.2 μm or more is 0.2 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less.