January/February 2021

In this issue:…

4 President’s Podium

6 The Mechanical Stability of Polymer-Modified Greases

18 NLGI Interviews Constantin Madius

Senior Commercial Product Manager, AXEL Americas LLC

26 Industry Calendar of Events

26 Welcome New NLGI Members

26 Advertiser’s Index

27 NLGI Research Grants

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT:

JIM HUNT

Tiarco Chemical

1300 Tiarco Dr

Dalton, GA 30720

SECRETARY:

WAYNE MACKWOOD

Lanxess Corporation

565 Coronation Dr West Hill, ON, M1E 2K3, Canada

PAST-PRES./ADVISORY:

JOE KAPERICK

Afton Chemical Corporation

500 Spring St Richmond, VA 23218

VICE PRESIDENT: ANOOP KUMAR

Chevron Lubricants 100 Chevron Way Room 71-7334 Richmond, CA 94801

TREASURER: TOM SCHROEDER AXEL Americas, LLC PO Box 12337

N Kansas City, MO 64116

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: CRYSTAL O’HALLORAN, MBA, CAE

NLGI International Headquarters 118 N Conistor Ln., Suite B-281 Liberty, MO 64068

DIRECTORS

BARBARA A. BELLANTI

Battenfeld Grease & Oil Corp of New York

PO Box 728

1174 Erie Ave

N. Tonawanda, NY 14120

BENNY CAO

The Lubrizol Corporation

29400 Lakeland Blvd

Mail Drop 051E

Wickliffe, OH 44092

CHAD CHICHESTER

Molykote Lubricants

1801 Larkin Center Drive

Midland, MI 48642

CHUCK COE

Grease Technology Solutions

35386 Greyfriar Dr Round Hill, VA 20141

MUIBAT GBADAMOSI

Calumet Branded Products, LLC

One Purple Ln Porter, TX 77365

MAUREEN HUNTER

King Industries, Inc.

1 Science Rd

Norwalk, CT 06852

TYLER JARK

AOCUSA

8015 Paramount Blvd Pico Rivera, CA 90660

STACI SPRINGER

Ergon, Inc.

PO Box 1639 Jackson, MS 39215

MATTHEW MCGINNIS

Daubert Chemical Company

4700 S Central Ave Chicago, IL 60638

DWAINE G. MORRIS

Shell Lubricants 526 S Johnson Dr Odessa, MO 64076

JOHN SANDER

Lubrication Engineers, Inc. PO Box 16447 Wichita, KS 67216

GEORGE SANDOR

Livent Corporation 2801 Yorkmont Rd Suite 300 Charlotte, NC 28208

SIMONA SHAFTO

Koehler Instrument Company, Inc. 85 Corporate Dr Holtsville, NY 11716

JEFF ST. AUBIN AXEL Royal, LLC PO Box 3308 Tulsa, OK 74101

TOM STEIB

Italmatch Chemicals 1000 Belt Line St Cleveland, OH 44109

DAVID TURNER CITGO 1293 Eldridge Pkwy Houston, TX 77077

PAT WALSH Texas Refinery Corp One Refinery Pl Ft Worth, TX 76101

RAY ZHANG Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC 30 Winfield St Norwalk, CT 06855

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

CO-CHAIRS

ACADEMIC & RESEARCH GRANTS:

CHAD CHICHESTER

Molykote Lubricants 1801 Larkin Center Drive Midland, MI 48642

EDUCATION: DAVID TURNER CITGO 1293 Eldridge Pkwy Houston, TX 77077

EDITORIAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

CHAIR: Joe Kaperick

Afton Chemical Corporation 500 Spring St. Richmond, VA 23218-2158

TECHNICAL EDITOR: Mary Moon, PhD, MBA

Presque Isle Innovations LLC 47 Rickert Drive Yardley, PA 19067

represent the official position of NLGI. Copyright 2018, NLGI. Send e-mail corrections to nlgi@nlgi.org

Happy New Year Everyone!

We sincerely hope that 2021 will be a much better year than 2020. We should all remain encouraged to know that Covid vaccines are being distributed globally to combat this deadly pandemic and we hope that our lives will be back to normal this year.

Jim Hunt

NLGI President 2020 – 2022

As we begin a new year, we would like to take the time to once again outline the 6 strategic priorities for the NLGI. They are as follows:

1. Providing expanded educational opportunities

2. Membership growth, engagement and global outreach

3. Certification upgrade – implementation, engagement, marketing

4. Enhancing opportunities for networking and discussion on emerging industry trends/applications (webinars, panel discussion, Spokesman, social media)

5. Communication of NLGI knowledge-based resources and certification (Spokesman, marketing, NLGI value)

6. Effective governance and leadership for NLGI (financial growth and health)

The next six President’s Podiums will focus on these key strategic priorities. We will begin with one of our most important strategic priorities which is membership growth, engagement and global outreach. NLGI continues to work diligently to expand benefits we provide to all our members. Additionally, we encourage our members to engage as volunteers to support our valued organization.

The NLGI membership renewal program has been under way since 4th quarter of last year. The success of the NLGI is very dependent on our members reconfirming their commitment by renewing their memberships in 2021. During this challenging time, membership retention and growth is essential to the long-term health and sustainability of the NLGI. If you have not yet renewed your membership, please do so at your earliest convenience.

As a friendly reminder, here are some of the key benefits provided to all our NLGI members:

Cost Savings:

- Grease Production Survey ($2000 USD Value, Excel version (members only))

- Reduced Pricing for the Annual meeting, Certification Marks, HPM Certifications and Rebrands, NLGI products on website, Technical Articles 1941- present, Exhibitor/Sponsor opportunities, Free employment postings on NLGI website

Affordable Training:

- Unsurpassed education resources

- HPM Testing Webinar repository

- Research Grant Results and reports

Recognition & Influence:

- Opportunity to become host company for NLGI’s Hands on Training

- Presenting company for HPM Webinar Series

- Exclusive sponsorship opportunities

Increase Your Network:

- Profitable partnerships and networking opportunities

- Building lasting relationships within the industry

Once again, the NLGI is tremendously grateful for your continued support, loyalty and commitment. We would also want to continue to encourage membership engagement. For more information on volunteering, please visit: https://www.nlgi.org/about-us/committees/

Stay safe and healthy, Jim Hunt

President, 2020 - 2022

NLGI 2021 RENEWAL DUES

NLGI is currently collecting the 2021 Renewal Dues. Haven’t paid yet, no problem.

Payment can be made, in U.S. currency, by credit card, check, or by bank transfer (for additional fee) — just click the $ in the upper right of the NLGI website (login not required). Please contact NLGI for the banking information to pay by bank transfer.

THREE CONVENIENT WAYS TO PAY:

3 CREDIT CARD

via the website or call NLGI HQ

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NLGI member benefits include:

Cost Savings | Affordable Training | Recognition & Influence | Increase Your Network

Contact Denise Roberts, Membership Manager, for more information on becoming a member today!

NLGI 816.524.2500 | nlgi@nlgi.org

The Mechanical Stability of Polymer-Modified Greases

Erik Willett, PhD Functional Products Inc. Macedonia, OH, USA

Keywords: Grease, polymer, mechanical stability, thickener yield

Abstract

Polymer additives are routinely used to improve water resistance, oil bleed, and tackiness of lubricating greases. Less is known about the role of these polymers in the context of grease consistency and mechanical stability. Mechanical stability is a broad concept that generally refers to the ability of a grease to resist changes in consistency during continuous mechanical shearing in the field or the laboratory. Widely used means to evaluate mechanical stability and changes in grease consistency include the ASTM D1831 roll stability and the ASTM D217 worked cone penetration tests. Data collected over the years with these tests indicated that certain polymer additives reduced consistency losses caused by mechanical shearing. This study seeks to establish a more complete and fundamental understanding of why polymers influence mechanical properties of grease and how formulators can select the right polymer additive for a given grease type. Various polymer chemistries and molecular weights were blended with NLGI 2 base greases formulated with simple lithium, lithium complex, calcium sulfonate, aluminum complex, silica, and bentonite thickeners. For some blends, consistency and roll stability test results were consistent with interactions between polymers and thickeners to form composite structures. A model based on interpenetrating networks (IPNs) was proposed to explain these results.

1. Introduction

Preliminary Studies

Over the last decade, the evidence presented at conferences and through projects undertaken with customers showed that polymers affected mechanical stability of grease. But until now, an overarching study of polymer additives has not been conducted.

Prior work (2011) showed that polymers affected worked cone penetration of grease.[1] A simple lithium grease (NLGI 1.5) demonstrated an +8.1 % increase in cone penetration after working 10,000 strokes according to ASTM D217. Addition of various olefin copolymers to this grease reduced the +8.1 % change to between +0.6 and +3.0 % and, therefore, improved its mechanical stability. These polymers were used in two forms, solid (100% polymer) and liquid (between 5 and 10 wt% polymer in 100 N oil).

However, in other cases, polymers provided negligible or negative changes to mechanical stability of grease. For example, inorganic greases thickened with amorphous silica or clay lost both consistency and some measure of water resistance (in ASTM D4049 water sprayoff and D1264 water washout tests) with the addition of various polymers.[2] Mechanical strength was indirectly observed in D4049 and D1264 testing; these tests assessed the ability of thin layers of grease to resist a continuous impact of pressurized water from physically pushing a grease off a substrate.

Thus, two questions remain. How do polymers interact with grease? And why do certain greases behave selectively toward different polymer chemistries?

Grease chemistry is highly varied, but all thickener chemistries achieve the same goal, which is formation of a network structure. The specific chemistry, then, defines the types of forces holding the network together, how those forces create a structure, and which grease properties, such as texture and thermal, mechanical, and water stabilities, result from that structure. Grease networks are held together by various means: ‘waxy’ interactions between long chain saturated fatty acids (soaps), hydrogen bonding interactions (hydroxy stearate, hydrous calcium, aluminum), and polar or electrostatic interactions (metal carboxylates, silicas, clays).

Figures 1–3 demonstrate hierarchies of structures from single molecules to grease thickener networks.

Figure 1. Fibrous structures in simple lithium and lithium complex greases contain bilayers that form fibrils [3–5] and fibrous networks [6].

Figure 3. Particulate thickeners of silica or clay form fused aggregates and agglomerate networks [12,13].

Figure 2. Globular structures in calcium sulfonate and aluminum complex greases contain micelles [7–9] that form globules and globular networks such as these formed by aluminum stearates [10,11]].

IPN Model for Polymer Additives in Greases

Many industries use polymers to modify the mechanical properties and function of various materials including: lubricating oils, building materials, plastic or rubber goods, textiles, coatings, and adhesives. [4–8] The earliest patent for a grease modified with natural rubber latex was filed in 1930. Patents from major oil companies for synthetic polymers began to appear steadily in the 1960s.[9–12] Public discussion of the use of synthetic polymers in grease gained momentum after several papers appeared in The NLGI Spokesman during the 1980s.[13–15]

The polymer additives that most effectively modifying the properties of a grease typically exhibit long-range bonding forces that are similar to those that hold together thickener microstructure, Figures 1–3.[7] Polymer additives that complement the thickener network by forming a composite can produce significant improvements performance with treat levels as low as 0.25 wt%.[1][8] In the polymer literature, the term interpenetrating network or IPN refers to a structure that consists of two or more networks that interlace or entangle on a polymer scale but are not covalently bonded to one another. In this paper, the concept of IPNs is applied to model composite structures formed by polymer additives that interlace with fibrils in soap-thickened greases and extended to other thickener types.

Figure 4 illustrates the IPN model for composite structure formation by polymers (blue) and thickener fibrils (orange) like those in lithium soap-thickened greases. The application of heat (between 80 and 100 °C) is necessary to thermally dissociate weak, long-range interactions like those in nonpolar wax networks, hydrogen bonds, and polar or acid-base attractions. The strength of these weak interactions (versus those in ionic soap networks) can be observed in the melting points of the following series of C18 hydrocarbons: 2-methylheptadecane (no waxy interactions, MP 6 °C), n-octadecane (non-polar waxy interactions, MP 30 °C), methyl stearate (polar interactions, MP 39 °C), stearyl alcohol (hydrogen bonding interactions, MP 60 °C), stearic acid (polar and hydrogen bonding interactions, MP 70 °C), and lithium stearate (ionic bonds, MP 220 °C).[9] At these temperatures, applied heat and disorder (entropy) overcome the attractive forces (enthalpy) of these types of bonds, break apart these bonding sites, and allow new bonding partners (polymer additives) to incorporate and extend the network. These temperatures are well below the dropping points of most industrial grease thickeners: calcium stearate, DP 100°C; calcium hydroxystearate, DP 135 °C; lithium hydroxystearate, DP 175 °C; lithium, calcium, or aluminum complexes, DP >250 °C; and organic clays, DP >260 °C.[10]

Figure 4: IPN model for formation of composite structure by polymer additives and soap thickener fibers in grease

Polymer additives may form composite structures in greases with globular and particulate thickeners; these composites may have effects similar to those in soap-thickened greases. Many good, effective polymer additives are semi-crystalline, while viscosity index or VI improvers for lubricating oils are typically highly amorphous and not useful in greases.

To be effective as a modifier in grease, a polymer additive must achieve a stable composite structure through one of three mechanisms shown in Figure 5 [1]:

1. Temperature Sensitive – long unbranched sequences of ethylene units in polymers interact with long chain hydrocarbon acids in the grease thickener; they pack together and form interlocked wax crystals at ambient temperature;

2. Hydrogen Bonding – polar nitrogen and oxygen sites on polymers separate from non-polar oil and associate through acid-base attractions;

3. Reactive – acid anhydride sites on polymers react with metal ions to form insoluble coordination complexes (e.g., diacids) or react with hydroxide (–OH) groups to form covalent bonds with the thickener (e.g., boron esters);

Formation of a composite structure by polymers and thickeners is generally understood to be beneficial. However, there are many cases where this can be inhibited. It is well-known that combining two or more grease types can cause the blend to fail, e.g., undergo an undesirable change in consistency.[11] In another example, pour point depressants or polymers with long chain hydrocarbon segments can actively prevent the formation of hydrocarbon crystals by short chain hydrocarbons in lubricant base oils at low temperatures.

It has yet to be explored in detail whether composite structures form between specific polymers and thickeners. This study examined an array of combinations of greases and polymers and rationalized trends in the findings. The results showed that careful selection of polymer additives mattered to grease performance, but did not define which polymers should be used with each grease thickener. All of the components of a formulation, including base oil, complexing agents, additive packages, and production methods, can influence the effects of using a polymer to modify a grease.

Figure 5: The three main mechanisms for IPN structure formation by polymer additives in greases and analogies

2. Experimental

2.1. Materials Base Greases

Six base greases were obtained from manufacturers A through E. These greases were selected to present different thickener systems for study; their properties are listed in Table 1.

In this paper, each grease was referenced by its thickener chemistry. Base greases were formulated using typical performance additives for multi-purpose industrial grease minus any polymer additives. Base oil was obtained from each grease by oil bleed testing under mild conditions.[12] All six greases exhibited base oil viscosities from ISO 100 to 460. These greases were made from heavy paraffinic oils that were believed to be Group II, with VIs between 98 and 214.

Polymers

Nine polymers were added individually to each of the six base greases. These polymers included low molecular weight (MW 100–200 K) and high molecular weight (MW 300–600 K) examples from all three polymer categories explained previously for greases applications. [1]

The exact composition of these polymers was proprietary, but their typical functional groups are described in Figure 6. Performance of a polymer depends on the number and ratio of monomers, the molecular weight, the crystallinity, and other structural factors.

This study included two tackifiers, a low molecular weight olefin copolymer (OCP) (MW 0.5 to 1 M g/ mol) and a high molecular weight polyisobutene (PIB) (MW 4 to 6 M g/mol), known to form entangled networks in lubricating oils and greases.[19,20] An amine-functionalized dispersant polymethacrylate (PMA) was also included in this study due to general interest in how this multifunctional polymer, which contains waxy side groups and a mixture of esters and amine sites and displays pour point depressant behavior, could influence grease structure.

Table 1. Properties of the six base greases

Figure 6: Typical functionality of the three polymer additives and their relevance for mechanisms of structure formation (temperature sensitivity, hydrogen bonding, and chemical reactions.)

2.2. Methods Polymer Solution Preparation

Polymers were pre-dissolved at concentrations between 8 and 10 wt % in 100 N Group II oil (with 0.1 wt % BHT, butylated hydroxytoluene) to allow consistent and high-throughput blending of different polymers into the base greases. Polymers were solubilized for 24 h at temperatures between 100 and 120 °C; solutions were then filtered (filter rating 150 microns) before they were added while hot to grease.

Polymer-Modified Grease Preparation

Base greases were top-treated with 5 parts polymer solution to 95 parts grease and mixed at low speed and temperatures between 80 and 100 °C for 2 h. Base greases were milled during initial production and not milled again after adding polymer in liquid form. Greases were left to rest at temperatures between 20 and 25 °C for 24 h before testing.

Consistency Measurement by Cone Penetration

All cone penetration data in this paper were obtained using quarter-scale equipment to evaluate grease after it was worked for 60 double-strokes and reported in units of mm/10 (ASTM D1403; Precision Scientific Co. #D-5). NLGI grades were assigned with half grades according to ASTM D217. Half grades denote consistencies that fall within gaps of cone penetration values between two grades. For example, NLGI 1.5 falls between NLGI 1 and 2 ranges for cone penetration. Air voids were removed from tacky samples by knocking the grease-filled cup against a solid surface per the standard method before testing.

ASTM D1831 Roll Stability

To quantify mechanical stability, greases were tested according to the ASTM D1831 test for roll stability by a certified (ISO 17025-2017) outside laboratory. Standard test conditions (2 h, 25 °C) with quarter-scale cone penetration equipment were used. Roll stability was reported as the percent change in consistency. A positive percentage means that the penetration increased and the grease softened. A negative percentage signifies that the penetration decreased and the grease thickened.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 Changes in Grease Consistency with Polymer

The first stage of this study focused on understanding the contributions of polymer additives to unsheared grease consistency. This information is useful because polymers are used routinely to increase grease consistency and reduce the need for thickener, which can be costly and limited in availability due to competition with other markets, e.g., electric vehicles.[16]

Fifty-four greases were prepared from low and high molecular weight versions of six polymer additives, two tackifiers, and one dispersant and tested in six base greases. Control greases were prepared by adding diluent base oil (no polymer) to base greases. Cone penetration data for modified and control greases were compared.

Table 2 summarizes the observed changes in NLGI grade with the addition of polymers versus diluent oil (control). There was no significant difference in consistency for 21 (39 %) of the 54 polymermodified greases relative to the control greases (empty cells in Table 2.) In each of these 21 cases, the

NLGI grade was the same for base grease modified with 5 wt% of a blend of polymer in base oil and base grease with 5 wt% 100 N diluent base oil.

In over half of the cases,-polymer-modified greases had significantly stiffer or firmer consistency than controls. That is, the NLGI grade was 0.5 unit higher for 21 (3 %) and 1.0 unit higher for 7 (13 %) of the polymer-modified greases than the oil-modified controls. These 28 cases were used in the roll stability study discussed below.

Only six polymer-modified greases were significantly softer than control greases, five (7 %) by onehalf grade and one (2 %) by a full grade.

Table 2: NLGI grades of the 54 modified greases (blended with 5 wt% of 8 to 10 % polymer in oil) vs. controls (blended with 5 wt% of 100 N base oil). Blank cells mean no change (+0.0) in NLGI grade due to a polymer. Bold entries indicate a consistency gain (+0.5 or +1.0 unit), and red entries indicate a loss (-0.5 or -1.0 unit).

Simple lithium and lithium complex greases with fibrous thickener structures showed high compatibility with the various polymers in this study. Fourteen or 78 % of 18 combinations showed an increase in NLGI grade, which indicated formation of a composite structure such as an IPN-like structure. Higher consistency gains occurred with lower molecular weight variants of each polymer type. Two large (+1.0 grade) changes occurred between lithium complex and low MW temperature sensitive and reactive polymers.

Calcium sulfonate and aluminum complex greases with globular structure were highly variable in their response to these polymers. In seven (39 %) of 18 samples, the polymers had no effect on NLGI grade. One-third (six) of the additives produced an +0.5 grade increase, and the remainder (five additives or 28 %) gave consistency losses of one grade. The high MW hydrogen bonding polymer performed well in both globular greases. The low MW reactive polymer and both tackifiers enhanced the consistency of the calcium sulfonate grease but not the aluminum complex grease. The high MW hydrogen bonding and reactive polymers gave the best results in the aluminum complex grease.

Negative changes in NLGI grade and significant loss of consistency were not anticipated at the beginning of this study. Coincidentally, greases with globular structure, especially those with aluminum complex thickener, that exhibited NLGI grade loss in this study are known to develop “false body”.[21,22] During production and storage, grease consistency can increase over time. When the grease is sheared, this extra consistency (false body) is quickly lost. In this study, false body may have caused the controls to have higher NLGI grade while the added polymer may have inhibited false body formation, leading to a lower NLGI grade for grease with polymer than without polymer. The net result would be a negative change in NLGI grade or apparent softening of polymer-modified grease.

For greases thickened with particles of silica or bentonite clay, polymers produced either no change in NLGI grade or a mix of 0.5 and 1.0 NLGI grade increases. In silica-thickened grease, results were dramatic with either a full NLGI grade improvement or no effect. The consistency of silica grease improved in three cases where additives were subjectively adhesive in handling quality and OCP based. Bentonite clay exhibited high compatibility and consistency gains primarily with polymers containing polar functionality, both the hydrogen bonding and the polar-grafted reactive types. This result was reasonable due to the high surface functionality of –OH groups on clay particles, which requires the use of hydrogen bonding dispersants to incorporate the clay into oil. Silica particles, in contrast, tend to have lower surface functionality and less hydrogen bonding ability if produced from SiCl4 at very high temperature as fumed silica rather than precipitated silica. This may explain the large difference in response to polymers between the two particulate-thickened greases.

3.2 Changes in Roll Stability with Polymer

Those cases that produced a notable increase in consistency (> +0.5 NLGI grade) were considered to possess strong interactions between the grease thickener and the polymer that was indicative of a stable IPN-like composite structure. It has been hypothesized that formation of a stable IPN-like structure is responsible for most benefits that polymer additives provide in grease.[1][8][15]

The ASTM D1831 roll stability test was used to evaluate the relationship between greases with relatively large significant consistency increase and shear stability. Quarter-scale cone penetration equipment has a reproducibility of 11 units; this gives a relative error of +3.8 % according to the repeatability guidelines of ASTM D1831 and the average cone penetration 290 units (10/mm) in this study.[16]

Twenty-seven polymer-modified greases and six control greases were tested per D1831 to evaluate the effects of polymer additives on roll stability. Table 3 summarizes the consistency changes with positive values meaning a loss of consistency (thinning, softening), and negative values meaning an increase in consistency (thickening, hardening). Differences in consistency change for polymermodified grease relative to control grease that were smaller than the relative error (+3.8 %) were deemed negligible.

Table

changes

cells correspond to cases that were not tested for roll stability. Italics indicate no significant change in consistency (within +3.8 % versus the control). Bold-faced entries indicate significantly better roll stability, and red entries indicate significantly worse roll stability, than the control grease.

3: ASTM D1831 roll stability

in polymer-modified greases. Blank

Of the 27 polymer-modified greases, 15 samples (or 56 %) did not undergo a significant change in consistency relative to the control during the roll stability test. The implication of these results, however, is quite significant. Polymers increased the consistency of the simple lithium grease and the clay grease by up to one full NLGI grade without affecting shear stability. That is, 0.45 wt% polymer could replace up to 3.5 wt% lithium 12-hydroxystearate preformed thickener or bentonite clay in these greases.[25,26]

Polymer additives improved the shear stability of five lithium complex greases and one aluminum complex grease. Figure 7 shows typical highly structured nature of a fibrous grease, which can be destroyed by mechanical shearing. In this study, the lithium complex grease demonstrated high compatibility with most of the polymers tested and both higher NLGI grade (an improvement) and reduced shear losses when modified with polymer additives. Relatively weak, short-range waxy interactions, hydrogen bonds, and polar attractions maintained the network structure formed by these soap fibers. These cases demonstrated that shear stability improvement can occur after IPNlike composite structure has formed (as evidenced by NLGI grade increase preceding the roll stability testing).

Six samples (22 %) showed a loss of shear stability with the use of a polymer additive. High molecular weight hydrogen bonding polymers including the dispersant PMA decreased shear stability in four of these six cases. The majority of these cases occurred with the globular greases that tended to be highly selective toward these polymers. That is, for the greases with globular thickeners, only a few of the nine polymers improved their NLGI grade and qualified for roll stability testing. In general, globular thickener networks tend to be held together by so-called ‘waxy’ interactions between long chain alkyl groups along the exteriors of the micelles. Waxy interactions occur between long ethylene units in waxy molecules (base oils, additives, or polymers), and these interactions are responsible for their self-assembly into crystals at ambient temperatures. Although waxy molecules do not contain heteroatoms (oxygen, nitrogen) or lone pair electrons, they associate because the thermodynamic enthalpy change dominates the entropy change.[19] These waxy interactions are sensitive to the proportions of waxy components and pour point depressants, which can suppress wax crystallization. [20]

In this study, it may have been the case that the large polymers with hydrogen bonding capabilities interrupted the structure of the micelles in order to hydrogen bond with their hydrophilic cores. The reactive polymers also gave poor shear stability in the globular greases. In general. these reactive additives operate by interacting with and grafting to the metal centers contained in the thickener. This could have inhibited the formation of stable micelles in the globular grease structure in this study.

Figure 7: Shear-induced damage to the structure of a fibrous lithium complex grease reproduced from [18].

Oddly, three samples had higher consistency after shearing than before shearing. Two of these samples contained the low molecular weight reactive polymer and gave a significant result (>3.8 % difference from the control grease) in the aluminum complex grease and a negligible result in the simple lithium grease. It is hypothesized that with the reactive polymer, kinetics favored the formation of a composite structure, while the aggressive milling in the D1831 test favored rearrangement to form a more thermodynamically stable structure.[21] For example, the reactive functionality of the polymer, which can behave similarly to a diacid and coordinate metals, or similar to boron and complex hydroxyl groups, may have changed its mode of action.

3.3 Overall Comments on Findings

The stark contrast between the effects of polymers on NLGI grade and yield of the lithium versus the non-lithium greases demonstrated the need to include a variety of grease types in additive research. However, lithium-thickened greases continue to capture a majority (>70 %) of the grease market and remain the focus of many research studies.[22] This paper specifically included six grease types in order to expand the body of literature about interactions between polymers and greases. In the present study, lithium greases behaved as expected because most expectations were based on prior results obtained using lithium greases. The results for globular and particulate greases were far more nuanced in this study.

Prior to this study, much data supported the belief that polymers were generally good for improving shear stability of greases. However, in this study, the use of polymer additives significantly improved the mechanical stability of only 22 % or six of 27 greases; the remaining 78 % showed either a loss or no significant change in stability. Yet, only six cases (22 %) showed a defined loss of shear stability due to the addition of a polymer. These results signify that, in general, use of a polymer additive for water resistance, tack, adhesion, oil bleed control, or enhanced yield will not come at the expense of mechanical stability of a grease. However, the findings from this study also suggested against using hydrogen bonding polymers in greases with globular structure such as calcium sulfonate and aluminum complex greases.

Many cases (52 %) in this study demonstrated that polymers can increase NLGI grade, which ultimately means improving yields and economics by partially replacing thickener. A small number of cases showed NLGI grade loss that may be the consequence of reducing the occurrence of false body effects. Cases where no NLGI grade change took place may actually indicate opportunities to add those polymers for different advantages without reformulating the thickener and oil content.

4. Conclusions

Do polymers affect the mechanical stability of grease? At face value, D1831 roll stability data for six types of greases treated with nine polymers showed no discernible change in mechanical stability in almost 56 % of cases studied. Stability increased for half (22 %) and decreased for half of the remaining 44 % of cases.

However, roll stability testing was carried out only for greases that showed a one-half or one NLGI grade increase in consistency after the addition of 5 % of a blend of polymer in diluent base oil. Since the polymer provides the same mechanical stability at a greater consistency with lower thickener concentration. it can be argued that the polymer actually increases the mechanical stability from

another perspective. A grease typically uses between 5 and 40 wt% thickener for NLGI grades from 0 to 3 and has roll stability between <1 and >30 % change. In this study, the addition of 0.45 wt % polymer from concentrate had several effects: it diluted the thickener content by 5 %, added one-half or one NLGI grade, and on average had no effect on shear stability. Performance in grease is obtained with no immediate ‘cost’ or trade-off in the area of consistency versus shear stability, while in polymer-modified lubricating oils, much of the viscosity added by a viscosity modifier can be sheared away.[23]

Lastly, the results of this study for a wide variety of grease types were interpreted in the context of an IPN model of interactions between polymers and grease thickeners. From this perspective, not every grease polymer formed an IPN-like composite structure in every grease in this study. This means that the best option for a polymer additive will be specific to each grease. Even when an IPN-like composite structure forms (suggested by an increase in NLGI grade), not all of the proposed benefits are obtained (lack of shear stability improvement). The IPN model remains a useful framework for selecting good polymers to modify a grease, but human intuition plus trial and error experimentation are still required to obtain a perfect fit. Thus, grease making remains an art and a science.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Daniel Vargo (Functional Products Inc.) for discussion and interpretation of findings and to Patrick Stockton (Clark Testing, Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania) for discussion of ASTM D1831 testing. This paper was presented at a virtual meeting during NLGI Tech Week, August 24-28, 2020.

References

1. Wang, S. & DeVore, D. A study of polymer additives in mineral oil and vegetable oil-based greases. ELGI 2011 (2011).

2. Vargo, D. M. Polymers to Enhance the Performance of Inorganic Grease. NLGI Spokesm. 32–36 (2017).

3. Jafari, R. & Farzaneh, M. A Simple Method to Create Superhydrophobic Aluminium Surfaces. Mater. Sci. Forum 706–709, 2874–2879 (2012).

4. Fontana, C. M. & Kidder, G. A. Mineral oil lubricants containing polymers of 1-olefins. (1950).

5. Klemgard, E. N. & Standard Oil. US1979943A - Lubricating grease. (1930).

6. Hussey, G. D. Alteration of Grease Characteristics with New Generation Polymers. NLGI Spokesm. August, (1987).

7. Ward, W. C., Twining, S. R. & Zeitz, J. B. A Comparison of the Properties of Greases Containing Functionalized Polymer. NLGI Spokesman2 April, (2007).

8. Scharf, C. R. & George, H. F. The Enhancement of Grease Structure Through the Use of Functionalized Polymer Systems. NLGI Spokesm. February, (1996).

9. European Union. ECHA Registration Dossier Database (various entries per chemical). Available at: https://echa.europa. eu/de/registration-dossier/. (Accessed: 31st December 2019)

10. Coe, C. Shouldn’t grease upper operating temperature claims have a technical basis? NLGI Spokesm. 72, 20 (2009).

11. NLGI Lubricating Grease Guide. NLGI (2015).

12. Casserly, E., Langlais, T., Springer, S. P., Kumar, A. & Mallory, B. The Effect of Base Oils on Thickening and Physical Properties of Lubricating Greases. Lube-Tech April, 32–37 (2018).

13. Chao, K. K. K. & Williams, M. C. The Ductless Siphon: A Useful Test for Evaluating Dilute Polymer Solution Elongational Behavior. Consistency with Molecular Theory and Parameters. J. Rheol. (N. Y. N. Y). 27, (1983).

14. Merrill, D. R. Control of Consistency in Manufacture of Cup Grease. Ind. Eng. Chem. 17, 1068–1071 (1925).

15. Hussey, G. D. Alteration of grease characteristics with new generation polymers. NLGI Spokesm. 51, 175–181 (1987).

16. ASTM. ASTM D1831 - 19: Standard Test Method for Roll Stability of Lubricating Grease. (2019).

17. Blachford Corporation. Grease Additives Reference Guide. Addit. Grease Gelling Appl. (2016).

18. Rezasoltani, A. & Khonsari, M. M. On Monitoring Physical and Chemical Degradation and Life Estimation Models for Lubricating Greases. Lubricants 4, (2016).

19. Krupa, I., Miková, G. & Luyt, A. S. Phase change materials based on low-density polyethylene/paraffin wax blends. Eur. Polym. J. 43, 4695–4705 (2007).

20. Gavlin, G., Swire, E. A. & Jones, S. P. Pour Point Depression of Lubricating Oils. Ind. Eng. Chem. 45, 2327–2335 (1953).

21. KELEBEKLİ, L. & MENZEK, A. Understanding Kinetically and thermodinamically controlled products by some social events. Ordu Üniversitesi Bilim ve Teknol. Derg. 3, 1–7

22. Turner, D. Grease Selection: Lithium vs. Lithium Complex. Mach. Lubr. (2011).

23. Covitch, M. J. & Trickett, K. J. How Polymers Behave as Viscosity Index Improvers in Lubricating Oils. Adv. Chem. Eng. Sci. 5, 134–151 (2015).

NLGI Interviews Constantin Madius

Senior Commercial Product Manager

AXEL Americas LLC

North Kansas City, Missouri

By Mary Moon and Raj Shah

My parents always encouraged me to continue with my higher education, for which I’m very thankful.

Constantin Madius takes advantage of opportunities. Constantin switched his major field of study as a student in Sweden, guided the Grease Genius Program at the Axel Christiernsson Group, and wrote a book, Grease Fundamentals. Then he moved from the laboratory into sales and management roles. He is in his seventh year managing a team at AXEL Americas LLC in North Kansas City, Missouri. To find out more about his big transcontinental adventure and which family member learned to fluently speak the English language in only six months, read on!

Career

NLGI: Please tell us a little bit about where you grew up and your education.

CM: I grew up in Gothenburg, a large city on the west coast of Sweden. My parents were immigrants, and we lived in a pretty rough neighbourhood.

I started to study theoretical mathematics at the University of Gothenburg. After a year, I moved to the University of Borås where I changed the focus of my studies to Chemical Engineering.

NLGI: When did you become interested in engineering?

CM: I’ve always liked math, so the step to engineering came naturally at the University. I

was fascinated with chemistry, especially laboratory work. Chemical Engineering seemed to be the perfect combination of chemistry and engineering. I realized quickly at the University that laboratory work did not really suit my personality.

NLGI: How did you begin your career?

CM: My first job as a chemical engineer was actually working for the Axel Christiernsson Group in Sweden. The Company needed a Technical Service Engineer who was proficient in

University of Borås, Sweden

the Finnish language and had the skills necessary to run and give lectures at their grease training courses. My education and personality were perfect for this role. So I joined Axel Christiernsson in 1998.

At that time, Axel Christiernsson was a much smaller company than it is today. The Company had plants in Sweden and the Netherlands. The Swedish plant supplied the Nordic countries with lubricating greases.

The Company has grown, but its focus on close relationships with customers, high-quality products, and development of new technologies has not changed but, rather, strengthened.

NLGI: How did you develop your career?

CM: I wanted to step out of the office and meet customers, visit end-users, and see the actual applications. After a colleague left the Company, I transferred to their position and became a Sales Account Manager. This was a good career move for me and the Company. The timing was perfect, as I had a lot of drive and wanted to develop my career. I continued in a commercial sales role for 10 years, and then I became Group Product Manager for Axel Christiernsson International.

NLGI: Have you had a mentor?

CM: I’ve been fortunate to have Mr. Graham Gow, a wellknown grease expert at Axel Christiernsson, as a mentor. Mr. Gow inspired me with his knowledge and passion for the grease industry. He definitely played a big part in my professional development by pushing me and questioning and supporting ideas I had along the way.

NLGI: What do you think about making the transition from a technical to a commercial role?

CM: First, I’d like to say that not everyone is cut out to work in sales. That said, a technical background is a huge advantage for working in a commercial position. With a technical background, it’s easier to translate the technical features of a product to commercial benefits for the customer or to relay the customer’s challenges to technical colleagues.

NLGI: You relocated to the US in 2013. How did you and your family make this big move?

CM: It was tough to decide to move across the world to a place that was unknown to me and my family. For people who live in Sweden, the Midwest is not a frequent vacation destination!

I discussed this with my wife, Cecilia, and we weighed all the pros and cons. We basically boiled the decision down to one question. If we don’t go to the US, at any point during the next five years will we tell ourselves that we should have made this move? If that is the case, then we’ll go.

Our move to the US started as a two-year project. It has become seven years and counting; we are far from done with this adventure.

The hardest part of moving to the US has been leaving our family and friends in Sweden. It’s not like we can pop over to

Constantin’s daughter, Phoebe, and his wife, Cecilia, relocated with him to the US

Constantin supports Axel Christiernsson’s dedication to customers

Sweden for a weekend visit. We frequently use video calls to stay in contact with our family and friends. And we are active on social media and use it to show them what our life is like here in the US.

NLGI: What was it like to adjust to living and working in the US?

CM: Professionally, this adjustment has been rather easy for me because I have continued working in the same

PROCESS KETTLES

industry with similar products and the same overall company philosophy as in Sweden.

The greatest challenge for me has been to understand the specific geographical market, the culture of the players, and the factors that trigger decisions in North America.

I’ve made an interesting observation that the North American and the European grease markets have developed in separate directions when it comes to using different thickener technologies in specific applications. In North America, lithium complex grease has taken the role of overall multi-purpose grease, whereas in Europe, the use of anhydrous calcium grease is much more common in agricultural, construction, and forestry applications.

Another challenge has been to adjust to the culture in the US. I think we Swedes believe that we have a good grasp of American culture through the news media, movies, TV series, and music that we have in Sweden. These media might give a valid description of New York, Florida, or California, but not Kansas. And my family and I have learned which stores to go to for shopping, what laundry detergent is a good brand, how to get a cell phone without a credit score, and many other things necessary for day-to-day life in the US.

DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS OF FOR THE PRODUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL GREASES

When we first arrived in the US, my wife, Cecilia, and I were concerned that our three-yearold daughter, Phoebe, did not speak English. That problem took care of itself. After spending six months in the US, she was fluent in English, mostly through interacting with the other kids at her preschool.

Working in Management

NLGI: Do you have any suggestions for developing a successful career in management?

CM: Communicate, listen, and be inclusive. Make sure that the team knows the Company’s or the Department’s strategy and that they are well aware of the goals. Also make sure that each team member knows why their part is important for the overall success of the team. This will breed a culture of commitment and accountability. Otherwise, if there is no clear game plan with well-defined targets, then it is harder to achieve the goals.

NLGI: How would you describe your management style?

CM: Open and inclusive. In Sweden, the organizational culture is relatively flat and not a hierarchy as is usual in the US. I brought this management style with me to my role in the US. We face the challenges as a team, and we solve them as a team.

NLGI: What management challenges have you faced during the COVID-19 pandemic?

CM: I think face-to-face meetings have presented the biggest challenge. At the same time, everyone is in the same

boat. Everyone needs to be smart and to be safe.

Luckily, we have the software we need to conduct meetings, run projects, and almost seamlessly continue with daily work from home. Good routines are in place for the

colleagues that need to be in the office, the laboratory, or the plants.

With that said, I am looking forward to the future when we will have a better handle on this pandemic and can return to somewhat normal life.

or design their curriculum to meet their needs. Everyone who takes the Program receives a copy of the Grease Fundamentals book.

NLGI: What inspired you to write Grease Fundamentals?

Lecturing and Writing

NLGI: Please tell us about the Grease Genius Program.

CM: The Grease Genius Program was developed by my colleague at the time, Mr. Willem Smets, and I. The idea behind the Program was to fill a knowledge gap within the industry. The goal was to move away from the “art” of lubricating grease, which implies that grease is complicated and understood by only a few professionals. This is far from the truth. Instead, the Program teaches the science of lubricating grease.

The Grease Genius Program consists of several modular training courses covering everything from Friction and Thickeners to Test Methods and Applications. Anyone who takes the Program can choose the pre-set curriculum

CM: Grease Fundamentals was published in 2007 as part of the Grease Genius Program. When my colleagues and I searched for specific literature on lubricating greases, we found A Brief History of Lubricating Greases by Arthur T. Polishuk (1998), which was (and is) out of print. We also found fragments of information in chapters in several books about lubricants, technical articles, and conference papers.

We wrote Grease Fundamentals as a comprehensive, easy-toread reference book about grease. We had in mind that readers would keep this book close at hand, perhaps on their desks, because they would use it a lot. Grease Fundamentals gives a good overview of grease components, manufacturing, testing, and applications. It does not dive deeply down into specific details. Readers have appreciated our book. I believe that Grease Fundamentals fills a gap in the lubrication literature.

NLGI: Have you been involved with grease education in universities?

CM: One of my former professors attended one of my grease seminars. He was teaching a curriculum for Maritime Mechanical Engineers and realised that the courses did not cover grease lubrication in a sufficient way. Together we developed a training course that focused on the available grease technologies and the grease selection process to minimize wear and maximise the life of components. This training course was part of his university’s curriculum for many years. Unfortunately, I think it is common that future Mechanical Engineers do not get sufficient education in grease lubrication, so this training course was a really exciting initiative.

Grease Industry

NLGI: What are your thoughts about the position and future of the global lubricating grease industry?

CM: I think the global grease industry is stable. Looking back at the results of NLGI Production Surveys, there have been small changes in total volumes over the years. Unless there’s a quantum leap forward in the development of magnetic bearings [that support a load by means of magnetic levitation and avoid metal-tometal contact], I don’t see that this position will change in the near future.

I think we are going to continue to see a trend from lower to higher performing thickener technologies, such as from conventional calcium and sodium to lithium, from lithium to lithium complex, etc.

NLGI: Which new or future applications show particular promise for affecting the grease industry?

CM: Wind turbines, EVs, and other applications requiring low friction and long component life are important to the grease industry. I think there will be a greater focus on energy efficiency and sustainability in these applications in order to save money as well as save the planet. There are some grease technologies available today that looks very promising for these applications.

NLGI: Which new or future chemistries show promise for greases?

CM: In the last couple of years, there have been new, interesting developments related to plant-based sources of base oils. Novel additives based on nanoparticle technologies have been introduced.

polymers to thicken grease. These polymeric thickeners give grease some really unique properties that differ significantly from those of soap-based greases. These differences include lower selfinduced running temperatures, a very effective replenishment

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I’m very excited about the new EPOCH technology that AXEL has developed. EPOCH technology uses

Chemistry tailor-made

Constantin participates in NLGI and ELGI Annual Meetings

mechanism, and a much longer grease life.

NLGI and ELGI

NLGI: Are you and colleagues active in NLGI and ELGI?

CM: Yes, we are active in both NLGI and ELGI. Apart from attending the meetings, our technical team tries to present a paper once a year.

NLGI and ELGI meetings are perfect ways to meet customers and suppliers in one place and to learn the latest information about our industry. They are also perfect opportunities to network, discuss challenges within the industry, and share knowledge. And there are meetings of the working groups that focus on specific topics.

NLGI: What are the current working groups?

CM: There are currently three active joint NLGI-ELGI Working Groups:

• Grease Particle Evaluation

• Food Grade Lubricants

• Biobased Greases

In addition, there are two active ELGI Working Groups:

• Test Methods and Rheology

• Railway Lubricants

These working groups are open for all members, and non-members are occasionally invited to participate. The ELGI

working groups meet twice a year at the ELGI annual general meetings in the spring and fall. The joint groups meet at both ELGI and NLGI annual meetings.

NLGI: Are you involved in these working groups?

CM: I’m the ELGI Technical Coordinator for the ELGI and the joint NLGI-ELGI Working Groups. As Technical Coordinator, I work closely with the chairs of the various working groups as a facilitator and as a moderator during the meetings. Due to increasing numbers of members of the working groups, ELGI created the Technical Coordinator position in 2013 to help the working groups operate in a smooth and efficient way.

NLGI: Why are working groups important?

CM: The working groups focus on specific topics or challenges that the grease industry wants to address. Participants usually represent

multiple stakeholders, from suppliers to manufacturers and end-users. If a working group does not exist for a specific topic, it is possible to start one provided there are sufficient participants.

NLGI: What are some recent accomplishments of ELGINLGI Working Groups?

CM: The Food Grade Lubricants Working Group has issued a position paper regarding the selection and use of food grade lubricants. This paper brings clarity to some of the uncertainties surrounding food grade lubricants and their regulations and registrations.

The Biobased Greases Working Group has issued recommendations on test methods suitable for assessing the oxidative behaviour of biobased greases.

The Grease Particle Evaluation Working Group has submitted a proposal for a new test standard to ASTM. This proposal covers the use of a

Constantin and his family volunteer for Free Hot Soup KC

Hegman gauge to classify the amounts and sizes of particles in grease.

Perspectives

NLGI: Do you have time to be involved in other volunteer activities?

CM: My whole family volunteers for Free Hot Soup KC, a grassroots movement that helps the homeless in Kansas City. This includes collecting donations, preparing meals, and serving food at any of their locations around the city.

NLGI: Where is your favorite place to travel?

CM: When we lived in Sweden, my favorite vacation spot was Spain. My favorite city in Spain is Granada, which is close to the mountains as well as the Mediterranean Sea and has a rich and fascinating history.

Now that we live in the US, there are so many places I would like to see. I’m a fly fisherman, so I really enjoyed the NLGI meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

NLGI: If NLGI members travel to Sweden, do you recommend special places to visit?

CM: First of all, I recommend that tourists visit Sweden in the summer. Both Gothenburg and Stockholm are beautiful cities to visit. If possible,

spend Midsummer’s Eve (third Friday in June) in Dalarna, a region with many beautiful lakes and forests in central Sweden, to experience historical Swedish traditions. And don’t be afraid to travel to Lapland in the far north of Sweden. Lapland is absolutely stunning with many mountains and rivers. In the summer, the Midnight Sun never sets inside the Artic Circle!

This interview series, started in 2019 by Dr. Moon and Dr. Shah, gives NLGI members a bit of insight into the professional and personal lives of their colleagues, developments in the grease industry, and the role of NLGI worldwide. If you would like to suggest the name of a colleague for an interview (or volunteer to be considered as a candidate), please kindly email Mary at mmmoon@ix.netcom.com or Raj at rshah@ koehlerinstrument.com.

Dr. Mary Moon is Technical Editor of The NLGI Spokesman. She writes scientific and marketing features published in Lubes’n’Greases and

Concerned about the future availability and price of lithium, or the handling challenges of diisocyanates? Polyamide grease thickeners could be the solution you’ve been looking for. Contact

Constantin enjoyed fishing at the 2017 NLGI Annual Meeting, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Tribology & Lubrication Technology magazines, book chapters, specifications, and other literature. Her experience in the lubricant and specialty chemicals industries includes R&D, project management, and applications of tribology and electrochemistry. She served as Section Chair of the Philadelphia Section of STLE.

Dr. Raj Shah is currently a Director at Koehler Instrument Company, Long Island, NY where he has lived for the

last 25 years. An active NLGI member and he served on the NLGI board of directors from 2000 to 2017. A Ph.D in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University and a Fellow from the Chartered Management Institute, London, Dr. Shah is a recipient of the Bellanti Sr. memorial award from NLGI. He is an elected fellow by his peers at NLGI, IChemE, STLE, INSTMC, AIC, CMI, Energy Institute and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has over 300

publications and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Dept. of Material Science and Chemical engineering, State University of New York, Stony Brook. Currently active on the board of directors of STLE he volunteers on the advisory boards of several universities. More information on Raj can be found at

https://www.nlgi.org/nlgiveteran-member-raj-shahpresented-with-numeroushonors-in-2020/

Industry Calendar of Events 2021

2021 RESEARCH GRANTS

NLGI invites proposals for advanced research into lubricating greases, under its annual Research Grants Program. The grants are intended to enable qualified universities and nonprofit institutes to undertake high-level, original investigation into this unique and fascinating material.

The Institute’s president, Jim Hunt, Tiarco Chemical, said NLGI is prepared to accept research proposals from now through March 15, 2021. “Our goal is to award the grant recipient in Summer 2021 to fund research work during the academic term starting Fall 2021,” he said. “Depending on the quality of the proposals we see, the grant amounts can range from $1,000 up to $50,000 per calendar year.” Types of research that will be considered include but are not limited to:

• Fundamental grease chemistry

• Thickener systems

• Improved test methods

• Insights into grease processing technologies

• Sustainability of grease production, materials or use

*Pre-competitive research of interest to the wider grease community will be favored.

NLGI has a history of funding academic research into lubricating grease, and of supporting post-graduate work at various universities, including Penn State, Imperial College London, Louisiana State University, University of Akron and the University of California Merced. “NLGI members and our Board of Directors are committed to supporting academic and fundamental research that adds to the world’s knowledge about lubricating greases, “said Executive Director Crystal O’Halloran.

NLGI is committed to a rigorously fair and open process for the grants and the guidelines for the program are posted online. The guidelines were developed by a volunteer task force drawn from the lubricating grease industry and academia.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants can apply in three easy steps. To be considered for a grant, qualified applicants must download and complete the following:

• Research Grant Application Form

• University Letter

• Memorandum of Understanding

Submit the completed documents electronically to NLGI Headquarters by March 15, 2021. Please include the lead researcher’s qualifications and references, a description of the proposed work and how it meets NLGI’s criteria for research grants and who will conduct the research. For more information on How to Apply, please click here.

Please don’t hesitate to contact NLGI at nlgi@nlgi.org or 816.524.2500 with any questions.