Specialty grease thickeners — bentonite clay, PTFE, calcium sulfonate, polyurea — each serve distinct applications based on temperature range, shear stability, water resistance, and regulatory requirements. For formulators choosing between bentonite clay and PTFE-thickened bases, understanding the practical performance differences is essential. Bentonite Clay Greases Bentonite clay (montmorillonite) greases are non-melting — they don’t have […]

Sustainability requirements in lubricant formulation are accelerating. Bio-based content minimums, biodegradability targets, and restrictions on petroleum-derived additives are pushing formulators toward genuinely renewable additive chemistries. Desilube AEP is a commercially available extreme pressure additive derived from lignin — one of the most abundant natural polymers on earth. What Is Lignin? Lignin is a complex aromatic […]

When load capacity is the primary performance requirement — deep drawing, heavy forming, gear EP — the weld point on a 4-Ball EP test is the defining metric. Formulators replacing chlorinated paraffins need an alternative that can match or exceed 800 kgf weld points without introducing chlorine, heavy metals, or restricted sulfur compounds. How Amine […]

Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) are required on commercial vessels in US and EU waters, near waterways and ecologically sensitive areas, and increasingly in forestry and offshore applications. For formulators developing EAL-compliant products, the additive package is often the most difficult component to qualify. What Defines an EAL Additive? The EPA Vessel General Permit (VGP) and […]

Chlorinated paraffins have been the dominant extreme pressure additive in metalworking fluids for decades — delivering high weld points and reliable AW performance in metal drawing, forming, and cutting operations. But regulatory pressure is accelerating their phase-out, and formulators need proven replacements that don’t sacrifice performance. Why Chlorinated Paraffins Are Being Phased Out REACH regulation […]

Food-grade lubrication is one of the most regulated areas of industrial chemistry. A lubricant additive used on food processing equipment must pass a completely different standard than its industrial counterpart — and the most important of those standards is NSF HX1 certification. What Is NSF HX1? NSF International’s HX1 category covers lubricant additive components used […]

PTFE is under growing regulatory pressure as a PFAS compound. Food processors are switching to hBN-based PTFE-free alternatives. Here is what you need to know.

NSF HX1 is the certification standard for lubricant additives used in food-grade H1 lubricants. Learn what it means, why it matters, and how hBN compares to PTFE in food-grade formulations.