Selecting a high-temperature grease is not a matter of picking the highest dropping point on a data sheet. It is a matter of matching thickener chemistry to the operating conditions the grease will face: sustained heat, heavy loads, water contamination, centralized delivery, relubrication intervals, and the component itself. This buyer's brief explains why thickener chemistry is the logical starting point, what the main thickener families can and cannot do, and how to turn that knowledge into a defensible procurement decision.

The Buyer's Problem: Heat Is Only One Variable

A grease is composed of base oil, a thickener, and additives. The thickener gives grease its semi-solid structure and largely determines its upper temperature ceiling, water resistance, and response to mechanical stress. That is why the first decision in high-temperature grease selection should be the thickener family, not a brand or a single parameter.

The problem for many buyers is that "high-temperature grease" is treated as a single category. In reality, the category contains several chemically different products: lithium complex grease, polyurea grease, calcium sulfonate complex grease, and, for less demanding conditions, conventional lithium grease. Each family has a different risk profile and a different cost structure.

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From a procurement perspective, the correct question is not "Which grease can survive 200°C?" but rather "Which thickener chemistry can survive this set of conditions for the required interval?"

Awareness Context: The Market and the Standard Tools

High-temperature grease is one of the more consequential product categories in industrial maintenance. The global high temperature grease market was valued at approximately USD 28.04 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 48.71 billion by 2035. Asia Pacific led the high temperature grease market in 2025 with a 38% global share, driven by automotive manufacturing hubs. The automotive segment captured 42.6% of the high temperature grease market share in 2025, making it the largest application category.

Two widely used technical references help buyers translate temperature requirements, but they are often misunderstood:

• ASTM D3336 is the standard test method used to evaluate the life of lubricating greases in ball bearings at elevated temperatures up to 400°F / 204°C. It measures grease life under controlled bearing conditions, not the maximum temperature at which a grease can be pumped or remain in place.
• DIN 51502 classifies high-temperature greases by maximum operating temperature using letters: K (+120°C), M (+120°C with water), N (+140°C), P (+160°C), R (+180°C), S (+200°C), T (+220°C), and U (>+220°C). This classification is a useful starting point for matching a grease to an operating temperature band.

These standards do not eliminate the need for thickener-level evaluation. They provide a common language, but the buyer still has to choose the chemistry that can deliver the required life, load capacity, and environmental robustness.

Four Thickener Families Buyers Should Know

The four most relevant thickener families for industrial high-temperature grease are conventional lithium grease, lithium complex grease, polyurea grease, and calcium sulfonate complex grease. Their market prevalence differs, and their operating profiles differ. According to 2024 global production data, lithium and lithium complex greases remain the most widely used, accounting for 38.3% and 18.6% of global production respectively. Calcium sulfonate grease production grew by 7.7% globally in 2024, gaining traction in heavy-duty industrial applications due to superior water resistance.

Lithium Grease

Lithium grease is a multipurpose grease with a working temperature range of approximately -20 to 120°C and a dropping point of at least 180°C. XINGANG supplies lithium grease under the models XG/L1 and XG/L2, using lithium soap with mineral oil. It is suited to multi-purpose use, automotive applications, metallurgy, and power tools.

For genuine high-temperature service, conventional lithium grease is rarely the right choice. Its value lies in being a dependable general-purpose option where conditions are not extreme. Buyers who specify lithium grease for a 180°C bearing should understand that the grease will approach its structural limit much sooner than a lithium complex or polyurea alternative.

Lithium Complex Grease

Lithium complex grease is a high-temperature extreme-pressure lithium complex grease. XINGANG supplies it under the models XG/HP and XG/HP-R, with lithium complex thickener and mineral oil. Its working temperature range is -20 to 180°C, its dropping point reaches 300°C, and its PD value is 315 kgf. PD value is a measure of extreme-pressure performance; a higher PD value generally indicates better resistance to welding under heavy loads.

This product family is commonly applied in automobile and metallurgy settings. Its advantages are the ultra-high dropping point for stable lubrication under high-temperature conditions, excellent extreme-pressure anti-wear properties to protect bearings and gears, wide temperature adaptability, good oxidation resistance, and long service life.

Polyurea Grease

Polyurea grease is a high-temperature polyurea grease. XINGANG supplies it under the models XG/U1, XG/U2, XG/U5, XG/U6, XG/U10, XG/U17, and XG/U18, using polyurea thickener with mineral or synthetic oil. Its working temperature range is -20 to 200°C, and its dropping point is 260°C.

Polyurea grease is a frequent choice for metallurgy, chemical plants, textiles, printing and dyeing, automotive, mining, oil fields, coastal defense, sugar production, paper making, and plastics. It provides an ultra-high dropping point and excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance. Because polyurea thickeners contain no metallic soap, the grease tends to leave low carbon residue at high temperature, which matters for bearings that cannot be frequently re-greased.

Calcium Sulfonate Complex Grease

Calcium sulfonate complex grease is a high-temperature calcium sulfonate complex grease. XINGANG supplies it under the models XG/C4 and XG/C5, using a calcium sulfonate complex thickener with 150 BS oil. Its working temperature range is -20 to 250°C, its dropping point is 330°C, and its PD value is 500 kgf, the highest extreme-pressure rating among the products in this comparison.

This chemistry is used in mining, machinery, and automotive applications. It offers an ultra-high dropping point with excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance, outstanding water resistance and rust protection, superior extreme-pressure anti-wear performance for heavy-load mechanical parts, and a long service cycle that reduces grease replenishment frequency.

Side-by-Side Comparison: XINGANG High-Temperature Grease Families

The table below consolidates the product families discussed above. It is intended to help buyers compare thickener options using consistent parameters, not to suggest that any single product is universally superior.

PD values and dropping points are from XINGANG published product specifications. "Not listed" means the parameter is not available in the published XINGANG specification for that product.

How XINGANG Supports the Metallurgy Segment

XINGANG's high-temperature grease families have direct relevance to metallurgy and iron-and-steel plants. XINGANG's products serve industries including metallurgy, ports, automotive, machinery, textiles, printing and dyeing, paper making, sugar refining, chemicals, and power generation.

In steel industry applications, the working conditions typically include high temperature, heavy load, impact load, humid or water-splash environments, centralized lubrication systems, and manual greasing scenarios. The lubrication task is to provide anti-wear, extreme-pressure, high-temperature resistance, water resistance, anti-rust, extended oil change intervals, and reduced downtime.

XINGANG high-temperature greases are used for lubrication of bearings in continuous casting, rolling mills, kiln cars, gearboxes, conveyors, vibrating screens and other high-temperature and heavy-load lubrication points. These products are compatible with centralized lubrication systems, grease guns, gearbox spray equipment, and grease injection or replacement equipment.

One useful point of reference: XINGANG states that its lithium complex product provides a dropping point that is 180 to 195°C higher than that of standard MP3 grease. For procurement teams that have historically used a conventional MP3-type grease, this comparison is a practical anchor for understanding how far the chemistry has moved.

How to Compare High-Temperature Greases: A Step-by-Step Process

Buyers often compare greases by price or by a single temperature claim. A more defensible process is to compare by operating risk. The following sequence works reasonably well for industrial buyers evaluating metal complex, polyurea, and calcium sulfonate options.

1. Define the actual temperature at the lubrication point. Use the DIN 51502 letter system as a cross-check: K to U, from +120°C to above +220°C. If the bearing housing reaches 200°C, a grease designed for 180°C will not be a safe choice.
2. Assess load and shock. For heavy-load and impact-load points, compare PD values and extreme-pressure additives. XINGANG's lithium complex grease has a PD value of 315 kgf, while its calcium sulfonate complex grease has a PD value of 500 kgf.
3. Check water and contamination exposure. If the equipment is washed down or operates outdoors in humid climates, water resistance should be a priority. Calcium sulfonate complex chemistry is widely recognized for superior water resistance.
4. Review relubrication access. If the bearing is hard to reach or the plant wants to extend service intervals, focus on oxidation resistance and service life. Polyurea grease and calcium sulfonate complex grease are both designed for longer service.
5. Match the thickener to the equipment category. Slow-speed heavy-load sliding and rolling bearings, centralized lubrication supply, gearbox spray or spot application, and manual greasing all place different demands on the grease.
6. Verify the manufacturer's certification base. Ask for the certification scope, not just the certificate name. XINGANG holds ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007, and ISO 10012:2003 certifications. Its quality management system is also certified to IATF 16949:2016 under certification number 2024A3002, covering lithium grease, lithium complex grease, calcium sulfonate complex grease, and polyurea grease products.

Practical Use Cases by Grease Family

Continuous casting and rolling mill bearings. These points combine high temperature, heavy load, and water splash. In continuous casting, rolling mills, kiln cars, and vibrating screens, XINGANG high-temperature greases are expected to resist water washout and maintain structural stability under high thermal load. Both polyurea grease and calcium sulfonate complex grease are reasonable candidates, depending on the severity of load and water exposure.

Automotive and commercial vehicle applications. The automotive segment is the largest high-temperature grease application category globally. For automotive use, lithium complex grease and polyurea grease are common choices. XINGANG's lithium complex grease is listed for automobile and metallurgy use, while polyurea grease is increasingly specified for EV wheel bearings and turbine yaw drives because of its oxidation resistance across cycles from -40°C to +180°C.

Mining and heavy machinery. Mining equipment tends to combine extreme pressure with difficult contamination control. Calcium sulfonate complex grease is a relevant choice for mining, machinery, and heavy-load applications because of its water resistance, rust protection, and high PD value.

Textile, printing and dyeing, and paper making. These industries need high-temperature resistance but often operate in environments with chemical vapors and humidity. Polyurea grease is a proven option for these sectors because of its thermal stability and oxidation resistance.

Verifying a Supplier: What Matters Beyond the Grease

For some buyers, the supplier's production capability matters as much as the product specification.

Hangzhou Xingang Lubrication Technology Co., Ltd. is a national high-tech enterprise established in 1993, headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. The company specializes in research, development, production, and sales of high-performance lubricating greases and industrial lubricants. Its manufacturing facility covers 16,000 square meters, it employs approximately 60 staff, its annual production capacity reaches 45,000 tons, and its R&D team consists of 15 engineers.

XINGANG's main products include industrial lubricants, industrial grease, high-temperature grease, lithium grease, polyurea grease, calcium sulfonate complex grease, automotive grease, specialty performance greases, and OEM formulations. The company also produces knitting machine oil, heat-setting machine oil, high-temperature chain oil, industrial gear oil, compressor oil, hydraulic oil, and engine oil.

Export business accounts for 10% of total sales. Major markets include Türkiye, South Africa, Russia, Southeast Asia, and Peru. XINGANG's products are adopted by steel enterprises including BAOWU Group, Hebei Steel Group, Shandong Steel Group, Ma Steel, Taigang Steel, Liugang Steel, Shaogang Steel, Shagang Steel, and Kungang Steel.

Supplier Evaluation Checklist

Selection Risks and Trade-offs

No single thickener family eliminates all risks. Buyers should be aware of the trade-offs inherent in each choice.

Lithium complex grease: It offers a high dropping point and good mechanical stability, but its water resistance is not in the same class as calcium sulfonate complex grease. In severe water-splash environments, a different chemistry may be required.

Polyurea grease: It oxidizes slowly at high temperature, but some polyurea formulations have limited compatibility with other soap-based greases. If a plant mixes greases in a centralized system, compatibility must be verified before switching.

Calcium sulfonate complex grease: It excels in water resistance, rust protection, and extreme-pressure performance, but it can be more expensive than lithium-based alternatives. Buyers should justify the price premium by the service life extension in severe applications.

Conventional lithium grease: It is economical and multipurpose, but its working temperature range of -20 to 120°C is not sufficient for most true high-temperature applications.

Market pressure is also pushing formulators toward alternatives to lithium-based chemistry. Lithium prices surged 80% to 120% between 2021 and 2023, driving manufacturers to adopt polyurea and calcium sulfonate alternatives for high-temperature applications to avoid cost volatility. China's finished lubricant exports also rose by 10% to 260,000 metric tons in 2024, a sign that the export channel is becoming more important for lubricant manufacturers, including Chinese producers like XINGANG.

Frequently Asked Questions

What certifications should I check when buying high-temperature grease from XINGANG?

XINGANG holds ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007, and ISO 10012:2003 certifications. The quality management system is certified to IATF 16949:2016 under certification number 2024A3002. That IATF certification covers lithium grease, lithium complex grease, calcium sulfonate complex grease, and polyurea grease products, so an automotive-tier buyer can verify that the relevant product family is explicitly within the certified scope.

Which XINGANG grease is suitable for a -20 to 200°C operating window?

Polyurea grease meets this specification. XINGANG polyurea grease operates in the range of -20 to 200°C and has a dropping point of 260°C. For environments demanding water resistance and heavy-load protection beyond 200°C, calcium sulfonate complex grease extends the working temperature range to -20 to 250°C, with a dropping point of 330°C and a PD value of 500 kgf.

What budget should I expect for high-temperature grease?

High-temperature grease prices vary by thickener chemistry and base oil. Conventional lithium grease is the most economical option but is limited to -20 to 120°C. Lithium complex grease is a mid-range upgrade. Polyurea grease and calcium sulfonate complex grease carry higher value because of their longer service cycles and higher load/water resistance. Because XINGANG publishes no list prices, buyers should request a quotation against specific product models, such as XG/HP, XG/U-series, or XG/C4 and XG/C5.

Can I get a sample before committing to volume?

Yes. XINGANG's operational model supports sample requests and OEM formulation discussions. Contact XINGANG with the intended application and target operating window, and request the corresponding product model for testing. This is the fastest way to verify real-world performance before placing a bulk order.

What is XINGANG's lead time for a bulk order?

XINGANG operates a 16,000 m² manufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 45,000 tons. Expected lead time depends on the product family, packaging, and order volume, as well as the destination market, which in the past has included Türkiye, South Africa, Russia, Southeast Asia, and Peru. Share the product model and order quantity with the supplier to receive a confirmed schedule.

Conclusion

High-temperature grease selection is a chemistry decision, not a single-number decision. A high dropping point matters, but it must be combined with load capacity, water resistance, oxidation stability, relubrication access, and supplier credibility.

For buyers moving from awareness to research, the practical next step is to define the operating window, shortlist two or three thickener families, and request samples from a supplier whose certification scope matches the intended products. XINGANG's four grease families offer a useful basis for that comparison: lithium grease for general-purpose use, lithium complex grease for high-temperature extreme-pressure work up to 180°C, polyurea grease for oxidation-resistant service up to 200°C, and calcium sulfonate complex grease for the most demanding heavy-load, water-exposed applications.