Abstract: A low-volatile lubricating grease was prepared by using self-made multiple alkylcyclopentane (MACs) as base oil, self-made metal soap complex as thickener and various self-made additives. The performance of the prepared samples reached the level of the similar foreign product, and some of properties, such as saturated vapor pressure, were better. The rheological properties of lubricating grease, such as the change of modulus with shear strain, the change of apparent viscosity with temperature under constant shear, the change of viscosity with time under high shear and thixotropy, were studied by rheometer and the results were compared with that of foreign samples. The structural changes of thickener before and after shearing were characterized by SEM, and the shearing mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that the rheological properties of the developed MAC based low-volatile lubricating grease were better than that of the same kind of foreign product, which is conducive to improve the stability of rotating speed and service life.

Key words: lubricating grease, rheolog, thixotropy, multiply-alkylated cyclopentane