Thickener component and lubricating grease containing an aluminium complex

Abstract

This invention relates to a thickener component based on an aluminium carboxylate compound and to an aluminium complex grease made therefrom with addition of a base liquid.

1 . A thickener component comprising 
 (A) from 99.99 to 94 weight percent of an aluminium compound which can be prepared by reacting a hydrolysable aluminium compound with one or more aliphatic monocarboxylic acid(s) or derivatives thereof, optionally in the presence of water and/or a C 1 - to C 40 -alcohol, thereby forming one or more aluminium compound(s) having at least one aluminium carboxylate bond per aluminium atom and, in addition, one or more aluminium-, hydroxy-, aluminium alcoholate-, or/or aluminium-oxygen-aluminium bond(s) and    (B) from 0.01 to 6 weight percent of an ester compound having from 6 to 60 carbon atoms,    each referring to the total of components (A) and (B).    
     
     
         2 . The thickener component of  claim 1 , 
 characterised in that the hydrolysable aluminium compound is an aluminium alcoholate- or aluminium-oxo-alcoholate compound.    
     
     
         3 . A thickener component according to any one of the preceding claims, 
 characterised in that the aliphatic monocarboxylic acid is a branched or unbranched aliphatic monocarboxylic acid of the type R 1 —COOH, wherein R 1  is a C 10 - to C 40 -radical, preferably a C 14 - to C 24 -radical, or a derivative of this monocarboxylic acid.    
     
     
         4 . A thickener component according to any one of the preceding claims, 
 characterised in that a temperature of 145° C., preferably 135° C., is not exceeded during the production of the aluminium compound by reacting a hydrolysable aluminium compound with one or more carboxylic acid(s) or carboxylic acid derivative(s).    
     
     
         5 . The thickener component of  claim 4 , 
 characterised in that an increasing temperature profile presenting a temperature difference of at least 20° C. is maintained at a time interval of at least 90 minutes during the reaction.    
     
     
         6 . An aluminium complex grease comprising the composition according to any one of the preceding claims and, in addition, a base liquid which is a hydrocarbon compound and/or a synthetic oil and which is added to the total composition in quantities of from 30 to 98 weight percent, preferably 60 to 95 weight percent.  
     
     
         7 . The aluminium complex grease of  claim 6 , 
 characterised in that the base liquid has a viscosity of from 20 to 200 mm 2 /s at 40° C. measured in accordance with DIN 51562.    
     
     
         8 . The aluminium complex grease of  claim 6 , 
 characterised in that the base liquid is a mineral oil with a boiling point of greater than 250° C.