Lithium Hydroxide → Lithium hydroxyoctadecanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A lithium hydroxystearate grease thickener was prepared by saponification of a mixture containing 12-hydroxystearic acid (50%) and the tri-glyceride thereof (25%) and 25% of C22 fatty acids containing no OH groups with lithium hydroxide in a mineral oil vehicle (ISO 150 viscosity grade of a 70/30 mixture of naphthenic and paraffinic stocks) at about 350° F. in a closed contactor. After depressuring and dehydration of the thickener in an open kettle sufficient mineral oil was added to reduce the thickener content to about 8%. The dropping point of this grease was 407° F. (208° C.). This grease contained no phosphorus or sulfur additives.

Provenance & Evidence