SKF LGHB 2 High Temperature Calcium Sulphonate Complex Grease

A calcium sulphonate grease for hot, wet, heavily loaded bearings

SKF LGHB 2 is a high viscosity, mineral oil based grease using a calcium sulphonate complex thickener. SKF formulated it to withstand high temperatures and extreme loads, with an emphasis on the cement, mining and metals segments, and notes very good pumpability. It offers excellent load capacity, anti-oxidation and corrosion protection even with large water ingress, and it withstands peak temperatures of 200 C.

Calcium sulphonate complex thickeners are known for water tolerance and inherent load carrying, which is why this grease appears wherever heat, water and heavy load coincide. The base oil is a thick 425 mm2/s at 40 C. The listed applications include steel on steel plain bearings, pulp and paper making machines, asphalt vibrating screens, continuous casting machines, sealed spherical roller bearings operating up to 150 C, work roll bearings in the steel industry, mast rollers of forklift trucks and slewing bearings.

Technical specifications

Pack sizes and lubricator units

Loose grease is LGHB 2/0.4 (420 ml cartridge), LGHB 2/5, LGHB 2/18, LGHB 2/50 and LGHB 2/180. SKF also fills TLSD 125 and 250 ml units and refills (TLSD 125/HB2, TLSD 250/HB2, LGHB 2/SD125, LGHB 2/SD250), LAGD 60 and 125 ml gas driven units (LAGD 60/HB2, LAGD 125/HB2) and TLMR 380 ml refills (LGHB 2/MR380B and LGHB 2/MR380).

Selection notes and what to confirm

Use the 4 000 N welding load and the 150 C operating limit as your comparison points against other EP greases. Because the grease is thick, check feed-line length and pump capability if it will be used in a centralised or automatic system; SKF points to its very good pumpability, but the system maker has the final word. Confirm bearing temperature, load, water exposure and pack designation, and avoid mixing with other thickener types without checking compatibility. Typical values are quoted in the data sheet. Related lubrication lines are under Electric Motors.

In hot and wet sections such as paper machine dryer ends or steel mill roll necks, the grease also acts as a barrier against water and contamination, so the relubrication quantity and interval matter as much as the grade. SKF offers LubeSelect (skf.com/lubeselect) for grease selection and relubrication calculation. Keep the grease type recorded against each bearing so the next shift uses the same product.

Changing over to LGHB 2

When a bearing is switched to LGHB 2 from another grease, the first concern is compatibility. Calcium sulphonate complex greases do not always mix well with lithium, polyurea or clay-based products, and a mixture can soften or harden in service. The safest approach is to clean out the old grease from the bearing and housing during a planned stop, then pack with LGHB 2. Where full cleaning is not possible, purge the old grease by relubricating more often for a period, checking the purged grease at the seal or relief point until only the new product appears. Label the grease nipple or lubrication point so the change is visible to every shift.

• Check the fill quantity for the bearing type and housing; overfilling raises running temperature, particularly at higher speeds.
• For automatic lubricators, set the discharge period to match the calculated relubrication quantity rather than the default.
• Flush centralised lines when changing grades so the old grease does not block metering valves.

Applying the grease in service

Use a clean grease gun reserved for LGHB 2, and wipe the nipple before connecting it, because sand or scale pushed into a bearing does more harm than a delayed relubrication. On slow, heavily loaded bearings such as slewing rings and rollers, relubricate while rotating the bearing where it is safe to do so, so the grease spreads around the raceway. On sealed housings exposed to water, a slightly fuller grease pack in the housing helps the grease act as a barrier against moisture.

Monitoring and troubleshooting

Watch for signs that the relubrication plan needs adjusting. Darkened, hardened grease at the purge point, or a rising bearing temperature trend, can mean the interval is too long or the operating temperature is above what the plan assumed. Grease that appears milky or contains water suggests the seals are letting in more water than expected. Excessive grease leaking from seals usually indicates overfilling. Vibration monitoring and temperature checks combined with grease inspection give the earliest warning before a bearing failure.

Application notes for Oman and GCC conditions

Cement plants, crushers, steel mills and mining operations in Oman combine high ambient heat, abrasive dust and in some cases water spray, which is the combination this grease is designed for. In summer, bearing housings on outdoor conveyors and kilns can run well above room temperature, so measure the actual bearing temperature and compare it with the operating range in the table rather than relying on assumptions. Dust is the main enemy of grease life in desert conditions; use effective seals, keep grease nipples capped, and store cartridges and drums closed in a shaded, dry store away from direct sun. At coastal sites and ports, the corrosion protection with salt water shown in the test results is a practical advantage for equipment such as crane and stacker bearings, though seals and housings should still be inspected regularly.

Documents and quotation

The SKF product data sheet can be downloaded from this page. For a quotation, send the designation including pack size, for example LGHB 2/18, with quantity and delivery point.