IKV GREASES
Energy and environment friendly
AN EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVE TO LITHIUM
Today, greases based on lithium technology represent more than 70% of lubricating greases in the world. Their good level of performance allows them to adapt to a wide variety of applications. The attractiveness of their prices has actively participated in the generalization of this technology for several decades, without really taking into account the energy consumed for the production of these greases. This applies also to the environmental impact in the use of lithium resources that are both limited and complicated to extract.
Today, we have to deal with 4 major factors that have a strong impact on the durability of lithium-thickened greases. These are:
- The exponential increase in lithium costs due to the high demand for batteries in particular, for use in electric vehicles;
- The risk of classification of lithium hydroxide according to the CLP regulation: “May damage fertility or the unborn child; category 1A (H360FD)” as proposed by ANSES and confirmed by ECHA’s CER (Risk Assessment Committee), which even added the classification Lactation – H362 (May be harmful to breastfed babies). This would lead to the integration of greases containing more than 0.3% by weight into this type of risk classification as well.
- The carbon footprint left by both the operation of lithium mines, but also due to international transport to their locations on continents other than Europe;
- The energy demand since each grease production based on lithium thickened greases requires process temperatures above 210°C. Not to forget the use of reinforced chemical additives to counterbalance the lack of anti-wear, extreme pressure and anti-corrosion prop erties inherent in lithium soap greases.
At the end of several years of development, IKV TRIBOLOGIE proudly makes its own contribution to such energy and environmental constraints. This, by developing an innovative calcium complex soap thickener which surpasses calcium soaps currently on the market. In particular thanks to a much higher worked stability, which is comparable to that of lithium soaps. The saponification process makes it possible to reduce the energy requirement by 50% and places it as the most virtuous on the market, thus deserving an “Energy Friendly*” label.
This thickener intrinsically has anti-wear, extreme pressure, water resistance and anti-corrosion properties that remain in place over time without the risk of additive depletion(as is in the case of lithium greases). Its nature makes it eligible for use in so-called “food grade” greases, ideal for use in the food industry or eco-friendly applications, depending on the base oils used.
This thickener intrinsically has anti-wear, extreme pressure, water resistance and anti-corrosion properties that remain in place over time without the risk of additive depletion(as is in the case of lithium greases). Its nature makes it eligible for use in so-called “food grade” greases, ideal for use in the food industry or eco-friendly applications, depending on the base oils used.
IKV-TRIBOSTAR and IKV-TRIBOFOOD calcium based greases resulting from this innovative technology, are available in different consistency grades, with mineral or synthetic base oils to cover different temperature ranges, the lowest of which can operate with start-up temperatures from -40°C, and to a maximum of +170° C. They are suitable for any type of application for the replacement of conventional lithium greases, including lithium complex.
Due to the economic stability of the raw materials when compared to that of lithium greases,
this generation Energy Friendly Calcium Complex Soap has a truley real economic appeal.
this generation Energy Friendly Calcium Complex Soap has a truley real economic appeal.
*Energy wise and environment friendly
Greases based on mineral oils
