An analysis of the mechanisms of grease lubrication in rolling element bearings

There are over eighteen billion bearings in use in the world, and most are grease lubricated. Grease is chosen for a variety of reasons: it gives low friction, is easily confined, and has a long lubricating life at low cost. In many applications, the grease is expected to lubricate effectively over a wide range of conditions and for extended periods. For such applications, lubricant failure leads to instantaneous and rapidly increasing damage of the components and eventually breakdown. Thus, an improved understanding of the fundamental aspects of grease lubrication has far‐ranging technical and economic implications. Despite the overwhelming importance of this subject, very little is known about the mechanisms of grease lubrication and the relationship between composition, lubrication performance, and life. This paper attempts to summarise current understanding of grease lubrication mechanisms in rolling element bearings and to consolidate the different aspects of this complex topic.