From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Laboratory report comparing the characteristics of five different grease samples.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\3\ scan0183 | |
| Date | 9th April 1937 | |
| To Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FD.{Frank Dodd - Bodies} HL.5/AG.9.4.37. Laboratory. Report No.L.4279. Re: Samples of Grease submitted for comparison and comments. We give below the characteristics of the various greases submitted. Mobilgrease No.2. Duckham's H.B.B. Grease. Shell Water Pump Grease. Metallic soaps present .. Aluminium Potassium and Sodium. Calcium and Potassium. Fatty matter .. 5.25% 16.15% 23.6% Mineral Grease .. 86% 76.5 % 44% Melting Point .. Fluid at atmospheric temperatures. 102°C. 120°C. Behaviour in boiling water .. Unaffected Unaffected Unaffected. Behaviour in boiling Glycol .. All melt and are affected to some extent, chiefly noticeable by change in consistency on cooling. Shell R.B. Grease. Shell Retinax. Metallic soaps present .. Calcium Aluminium Fatty matter .. 23.2% 3.5% Mineral Grease .. 70% 87% Melting Point .. 145°C 100°C. Behaviour in boiling water .. Softened, otherwise unaffected. Softens considerably at about 60°C finally melts. Behaviour in boiling glycol .. Melts. Little change in appearance on cooling. Melts. Consistency altered when cooled. The notes concerning the change in consistency after heating in boiling Ethylene Glycol refer probably to the effect of heat alone, as our experience of most soap thickened greases is that they adopt a "rubbery" consistency in the cold, after heating above approx. 150°C. for a short time. HR | ||