Quite often, certain grease applications, like wheel bearings for instance, specify,... "fiber type grease". So, exactly what are the "fibers" in that type grease and what are the advantages of such "fibers"?

I have forwarded an email to the tech committee at National Lubricating Grease Institute in MO, I will post their response.

I've wondered about that myself.

navel lint

I do remember packing bearings with that stuff. I don't think there are actual fibers. I think it is named that because of the tendency of the grease to form fibers when pulled apart.

I believe Alan....

Oils are long chain hydrocarbons. The longer the chains or the more the cross linking between the chains, the thicker the oil or grease. Fibrous greases are ones with long chain hydrocarbons with less cross linking, giving it a "fibrous" appearance.

Fiber greases used for wheel bearings will turn to soap in the presence of water.' Use a modern grease and forget about fiber greases.

Harold,

With all due respect to others and their equally valid alternate answers, I typically reach back into the industrial anthropology library to look at era type definitions. I came up with the following...what it was called in 1920, what it was made up of, etc. As others have pointed out...its really just a clingy grease at the end of the day.

You wanted to know about "fiber grease" and it would be great if someone could come up with a current exact NGLI number...but like Pittsburgh won't reveal the original Dixler formula in a modern equivalent for no apparent reason other than to avoid litigation...I wouldn't hold my breath.

For grins and giggles as they say...below is the 1920 'generally accepted thesis' on the subject

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quote:

...'generally accepted thesis'...

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I still use the old fiber wheel bearing grease in my cars. It isn't easy to find any more, but Sta-Lube still makes it.

From the tech at NLGI.
In terms of lubricating grease, the word fiber generally refers to the interlinked molecules of soap thickener in the grease, the component that gives grease its characteristic consistency. Some manufacturers refer to the thickener as soap fibers. Some soap thickeners, especially those based on sodium and barium soaps, tend to produce greases with a smoother texture. Modern greases do not contain what are typically thought of as materials, such as cotton or wool.

I missed a line:
In terms of lubricating grease, the word fiber generally refers to the interlinked molecules of soap thickener in the grease, the component that gives grease its characteristic consistency. Some manufacturers refer to the thickener as soap fibers. Some soap thickeners, especially those based on sodium and barium soaps, tend to impart a somewhat fibrous texture to the grease, while those based on calcium and lithium soaps tend to produce greases with a smoother texture. Modern greases do not contain what are typically thought of as fibrous materials such as cotton or wool