clay is used Non organic thickners in greases. What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? When and in what applications it should be used as thickners and is there any open gear lubricants using clay as thickners and what is the advantage compared to aluminium complex or other thicners? pl enlighten on this issue.
regards

Mr. Arupanjan,
There are a few clay base greases which are meant for high temperature applications.Clay base greases basically have no drop points.However, these greases are very sensitive and often gives problem.The main problem is that of solidification. You are right that these greases are also used in Open gear lubricants. But the latest development is that these are replaced with ALuminium complex base open gear lubricants.

al complex greases are exisisting for ages in the open gearing spray lubes the current trend is using clay is thickners? why is that?

Clay thickened greases are excellent for low speed applications and many are extremely resistent to water.

My experience with clay base open gear compounds is not very good and most manf. have changed over to Al.complex base which have better adhisive properties.Some of the earlier formulations were also based on Al. soap as thickners but I don't think any body now uses Al. soap as thickners.
vijay

I was looking for specific advantages and disadvantages with Clay.
of course there are companies which use AL SOAP AS THICKNERS and they are still exisiting. But usuually Al complexes are used for several other reasons beside sticking to gear flanks.
But the concepts are changing now on lubrication of open gears and there are revelotuionary product groups. And they only use Clay as thickners
regards