Tracing the history of lubricants back to 2400 BC, records exist of lubricants such as grease, oil, and water used to reduce friction. For example, reliefs depicting lubricants (water) injected for ease of transport have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to around 2400 BC. Additionally, substances primarily composed of animal fat, considered early forms of lubricants, have been found on the axles of chariots in Egyptian tombs dating to around 1400 BC. Ancient lubricants, aside from natural asphalt, were mostly oils extracted from animals and plants. The use of petroleum-based lubricants as greases began in modern times.
The Beginnings of Grease
There are three compelling accounts of the “beginnings” of grease.
- First, in 1845, an American named Ritz added lime water to mineral oil and resin oil, heated it, and after cooling, created calcium soap-based grease.
- Secondly, in 1853, a man named Henry Booz used sodium carbonate, tallow, and mineral oil to make a lubricant and obtained a British patent.
- Another account considers the use of a reaction product of rapeseed oil and lead oxide on German railways in 1860 as the beginning of grease production.
Synthetic Grease
For humanity, war is an opportunity for rapid advancements in science and technology. During World War II, lithium-based synthetic greases with excellent low-temperature properties were developed, making the high-altitude flight of the B-29 bomber a reality. After the war, with the rapid development of industry, grease production also entered a development phase.
The History of Kyodo Yushi
Kyodo Yushi began producing grease in March 1947. Supported by the development of large industries such as steel and automobiles, Kyodo Yushi gradually grew. Subsequently, we launched high-value-added greases for the bearing, construction, machine tool, home appliance, and AV industries. According to 2012 data, Kyodo Yushi’s greases achieved a 39% market share in Japan, becoming the industry leader. In addition, given the remarkable development of the IT industry recently, we are also continuously contributing to lubrication applications in fields with very high technical requirements, such as hard drive bearings and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
