Gilsonite in Lubricants and Greases

September 15, 2026 · 1 min read · Sun Gilsonite Technical Team

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Gilsonite can be used in heavy-duty greases and gear compounds.

Benefits

Property	Effect of gilsonite
Film thickness and adhesion	Increased
Water wash-off resistance	Improved
Load-carrying	Improved in some formulations

Gilsonite is dissolved in heavy base oil, then thickened and combined with additives. Levels of 5–20 % are common in open gear compounds.

Asphaltic compounds are dark and sticky, so they suit open, heavy-duty applications rather than sealed bearings.

Data sheet

Data sheet – Gilsonite Powder
Property	Typical value	Test method
Appearance	Black to dark brown powder	Visual
Particle size	100 – 200 mesh	Sieve
Softening point (R&B)	150 – 220 °C	ASTM D36
Ash content, max	5 %	ASTM D3174
Moisture, max	1 %	ASTM D95
Volatile matter	55 – 75 %	ASTM D3175
Solubility in toluene, min	99 %	ASTM D2042
Specific gravity @ 25°C	1.04 – 1.10	ASTM D70
Typical dosage	Drilling 2–8 lb/bbl · asphalt 4–12 % of binder · foundry 0.3–1.0 %
Packing	25 kg multi-wall paper or PP bags, palletized and stretch-wrapped; 1 MT jumbo bags.