Additional Information

• Grease Brochure
• NEW: NLGI India 2025 Presentation – “Upgrade Your Grease with FUNCTIONAL Polymer Technology”

Frequently Asked Questions About Grease Additives

1. What are grease additives?

Grease additives are specialized chemicals that improve mechanical stability, water resistance, oil bleed control, and adhesion in lubricating greases.

2. What makes Functional Products Inc. a leader in grease additive technology?

Functional Products has supplied polymer-based additives for lubricants and greases for over 40 years, combining ISO 9001:2015 quality, custom R&D, and award-winning tribology research.

3. What do grease polymers do?

Grease polymers reinforce the thickener network, forming an interpenetrating structure that improves tack, cohesion, and film retention—similar to adding rebar to concrete.

4. How do grease additives improve performance?

They reduce bleeding, enhance yield, increase shear resistance, and prevent water spray-off or channeling in bearings and open gears.

5. Are Functional grease additives REACH and GHS compliant?

Yes — all products are REACH and GHS compliant and produced in Macedonia, Ohio, under ISO 9001:2015 (with design) certification.

6. What are the main types of grease polymers?

• Reactive polymers for lithium, lithium complex, and aluminum greases.
• Temperature-sensitive polymers for calcium sulfonate and complex greases.
• Hydrogen-bonding polymers for inorganic or ester-based greases.

7. How do reactive polymers work?

Reactive polymers like V-4020 and V-4004A chemically link with metal ions or hydroxyl groups in the thickener, creating stronger crosslinking and reduced oil bleed.

8. How do temperature-sensitive polymers work?

Polymers such as V-207 and V-211 crystallize with waxes in the thickener, improving water resistance and mechanical stability in calcium sulfonate greases.

9. What are hydrogen-bonding polymers?

Additives like V-191 and V-508M form acid-base associations that reinforce clay, silica, and polyurea greases, ideal for biobased or ester systems.

10. What is meant by “interpenetrating polymer network” (IPN)?

It’s the combined lattice formed when a polymer and thickener entangle during cooling, giving the grease elastic recovery and bleed resistance.

11. What are the recommended starting polymers for new formulations?

• V-4020 (Reactive, pellet)
• V-207 (Temp-sensitive, flake)
• V-191 (Hydrogen-bonding, liquid)

12. What are “advanced grease polymers”?

Enhanced versions of basic polymers — e.g. V-4033, V-4270, V-4700 — that provide superior water resistance and mechanical stability.

13. Which grease polymer is best for high-viscosity PAO or PB base oils?

V-4700, designed for low-solvency, high-viscosity systems.

14. What’s the difference between V-4004A and V-4020?

Both are reactive types; V-4004A is liquid for faster incorporation, while V-4020 is pelletized for solid handling.

15. Which grease polymer is best for fast kettle or continuous processes?

Liquid reactive polymers like V-4004A or V-4033 for rapid dissolution and even distribution.

16. What is FUNCTIONAL V-211?

A styrene grease polymer enhancing water resistance and stability in both industrial and NSF H1 greases.

17. What is FUNCTIONAL V-4064?

A temperature-sensitive polymer for PAO/mPAO-based greases, improving structure in low-solvency systems.

18. What is FUNCTIONAL V-508M?

A biobased hydrogen-bonding polymer for ester and PAG greases, boosting toughness and EAL compatibility.

19. What is FUNCTIONAL V-572?

A tacky biobased polymer for ester-based greases, offering adhesion and cohesive film strength.

20. What is FUNCTIONAL V-188P2?

A PAO-based OCP tackifier providing shear stability and heat resistance in full-synthetic greases.

21. Which Functional additives improve EP and wear resistance in grease?

CI-426EP, GA-614, and GA-400 packages deliver antiwear, EP, and corrosion resistance.

22. What is FUNCTIONAL CI-426EP?

An ashless antiwear and EP additive designed for both industrial and food-grade greases.

23. What is FUNCTIONAL GA-400?

An NSF HX-1 ashless package for H1 gear and grease applications.

24. What is FUNCTIONAL CERAMAX?

A micronized boron nitride (h-BN) solid lubricant improving EP, high-temperature, and non-staining performance in both H1 and industrial greases.

25. How much CERAMAX is typically used?

1 wt% for EP enhancement, up to 40% allowed under NSF HX-1.

26. Why use tackifiers in grease?

They increase adhesion to metal, prevent fling-off, and improve cohesion under load or vibration.

27. Which tackifiers are most commonly used?

V-176, V-177, V-188, V-422, and V-425—covering industrial, high-viscosity, and NSF HX-1 food-grade options.

28. What’s the difference between PIB and OCP tackifiers?

PIB tackifiers (V-176, V-422) are economical and clear; OCP tackifiers (V-188, V-425) add shear stability and water resistance.

29. What’s the best tackifier for H1 food-grade greases?

V-422 (PIB) or V-425 (OCP), both NSF HX-1 approved.

30. What causes tackifier shear loss during milling?

Over-homogenization can break down high-molecular polymers; using V-188 or V-207 can resist shear and maintain tackiness.

31. Why use viscosity modifiers in grease?

To replace bright stock, improve low-temperature performance, and fine-tune base oil rheology.

32. What are common VM chemistries for grease?

EPO (V-731, V-732), OCP (V-4055, V-158F), and Styrene Copolymers (V-711, V-4316).

33. What is an EPO polymer?

A pure ethylene-propylene oligomer that combines the benefits of PIB and mPAO—low volatility, high shear stability, and clean film strength.

34. Which viscosity modifiers improve water resistance?

Styrenic copolymers (V-711, V-4316) increase hydrophobicity and compatibility with polyurea greases.

35. What’s the treat range for viscosity modifiers in grease?

Typically 1–5 wt%, depending on desired film thickness and NLGI grade.

36. When should grease polymers be added during production?

• Reactive solids: before saponification.
• Temperature-sensitive types: with cooling oil at 80–100°C.
• Hydrogen-bonding types: during cool-down at 100–120°C.

37. Can grease polymers be used in fast or continuous kettles?

Yes — liquid polymers or pre-diluted forms are ideal for contactor and continuous systems.

38. How do you prevent undissolved polymer residue?

Use appropriate mixing temperature and shear; liquid forms like V-4004A dissolve fastest.

39. Do grease polymers affect NLGI grade?

Yes — higher polymer levels slightly increase penetration resistance; always recheck worked penetration (D217).

40. Are grease polymers compatible with all thickener types?

Yes — different polymer chemistries (reactive, temp-sensitive, H-bonding) are tailored for soap, sulfonate, and particle-based greases.

41. How do grease polymers affect oil bleed?

Tests show up to 90% reduction in oil bleed per ASTM D6184.

42. How do they improve water resistance?

Reduces water spray-off (ASTM D4049) from 90% to under 20%, meeting NLGI HPM-WR standards.

43. How do polymers affect roll stability?

Reinforced greases show up to 95% lower % change after ASTM D1831 roll stability tests.

44. What’s the best way to test polymer performance?

Compare ASTM D1264 (washout), D6184 (bleed), and D4049 (spray-off) before and after polymer addition.

45. How is in-use grease analysis performed?

Modern FTIR, PDSC, and RULER tests assess antioxidant life and contamination per ASTM D7527 and D5483.

46. What are the fastest-growing markets for grease enhanced with the latest additives?

• High-performance multiuse (HPM)
• EAL and food-grade greases
• Heavy-duty off-road and open gear lubricants

47. How do grease polymers contribute to NLGI HPM performance?

They strengthen structural stability, enabling greases to pass HPM GC-LB, WR, and HL tests.

48. Are Functional grease polymers suitable for electric vehicle greases?

Yes — synthetic and reactive polymers resist bleed under thermal cycling and EMC conditions.

49. Can Functional additives reduce formulation cost?

Yes — polymers like V-4020 and V-188 improve yield and adhesion, allowing lower thickener content.

50. How can formulators request technical support?

Contact us to get samples or start a project with our experienced grease R&D team; or read more in our Literature section for TDS, SDS, and white papers.