There are several types of thickeners, each with its own special characteristics and advantages for specific applications. The most common kinds of thickeners are lithum soap and polyeurea. Please check the following chart for the detailed characteristics of geases that are composed of varities of different thickeners and base oils.

● Grease varieties and characteristics

Thickener	Base oil	Service temperature range [℃]	Drop point	Suitability for rolling bearings
Lithium soap	Mineral oil	-35 to 130	< 200
	PAO	-50 to 150	< 200
	Ester oil	-65 to 150	< 200
	Silicone oil	-60 to 170	< 200
Aluminium complex soap	Mineral oil	-30 to 160	> 230
Barium complex soap	Mineral oil	-30 to 140	> 220
	Synthetic hydrocarbon	-50 to 150	> 220
Sodium complex soap	Mineral oil	-30 to 160	> 220
	Silicone oil	-50 to 200	> 220
Calcium complex soap	Mineral oil	-30 to 130	> 220
	Ester oil	-40 to 120	> 220
Lithium complex soap	Mineral oil	-30 to 140	> 230
	PG	-30 to 150	> 230
	Ester oil	-40 to 180	> 230
Bentonite	Mineral oil	-20 to 160	-
Polyurea	Mineral oil	-20 to 160	> 250
	PAO	-40 to 160	> 230
	Ester oil	-40 to 180	> 230
Synthetic	Silicone oil	-50 to 200	> 230
(PE, PTFE, FEP)	Alkoxy fluorine oil	-40 to 250	not measurable

● Compatibility with elastomers and plastics
Besides miscibility with other greases, the compatibility of a lubricant with elastomers and plastics should be tested prior to its use. Such tests normally consist of measuring shore hardness, tensile strength and elongation at tear, etc..

a) Elastomers

* slight shrinkage in most cases    ** with white oil    *** without additives

Thickener	Water resist- ance	Corrosion protection	Pressure resist- ance	Mach- enical stability	Application notes
Lithium soap					General purpose grease
					Low-temperature grease
					High & low temperature grease
					High speed & wear characteristics
					High & low temperature grease
Aluminium complex soap					High-temperature grease
Barium complex soap					EP grease High-speed & long-term grease
Sodium complex soap					EP grease & high-speed grease
					High-speed & low temperature grease
					Low-temperature grease
Calcium complex soap					High-temperature grease
					Long-term grease
Lithium complex soap					General purpose grease
					EPDM-compatible
					High-temperature & long-term grease
Bentonite					High-temperature grease
Polyurea					High-temperature grease
					Long-term lubrication
					High-temperature & lifetime grease
Synthetic					High-temperature grease
(PE, PTFE, FEP)					High-temperature grease

:Excellent

:Very good

:Good

:Fair

:Poor

b) Plastics

+ resistant     +/- partially resistant     - not resistant