The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia Encyclopedia World Factbook Columbia Gazetteer American Heritage Coll. It is used to reduce friction between surfaces from which oils would leak away or cause damage by dripping, or where lubrication must be assured for extended periods.
Many greases are mixtures of mineral oil and soap.
Other soaps used in greases have bases of lithium, aluminum, barium, or strontium. Solid lubricants are sometimes used for extreme bearing pressures and high temperatures. Synthetic oils are sometimes used for special conditions, generally temperature extremes. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Click here to shop the Bartleby Bookstore .