BS ISO 11009:2021

What is ISO 11009 - Characteristics of lubricating greases about?  

ISO 11009 specifies a method for evaluating the resistance of lubricating grease to washout by water from a bearing when tested at 38°C or 79°C under specified laboratory test conditions. 

This test method estimates the resistance of greases to washout from ball bearings under specified conditions. No formal correlation with field service has been established so far. 

ISO 11009  is used for development and specification purposes. 

NOTE 1: For ISO 11009, the term “% (m/m)” is used to represent the mass fraction. 

NOTE 2: The use of ISO 11009 can involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. ISO 11009 does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of users of ISO 11009 to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and health of personnel before the application of the document and to determine the applicability of any other restrictions for this purpose. 

Who is ISO 11009 - Characteristics of lubricating greases for?  

ISO 11009 on the characteristics of lubricating greases can be used by:

• Manufacturer of lubricating greases 
• Grease and petroleum industry 
• Mechanical engineers  

Why should you use ISO 11009 - Characteristics of lubricating greases?  

Using the right lubricating grease is the first line of defence to protect equipment in service from corrosion from humidity, water contamination, and extreme temperatures.  

The purpose of ISO 11009 on the characteristics of lubricating greases is to prescribe a method for the evaluation of the resistance of lubricating grease to washout by water from a bearing. ISO 11009 provides information on sampling, apparatus, materials, operating procedure, and calculations required to determine the resistance of lubricating grease to washout by water. 

As the buyer of ISO 11009, you can determine how the long lubricating grease will last on a product and resist the washout by water. As free water leads to corrosion and absorbed water degrades grease, ISO 11009 helps improve the quality of lubricating grease so that it prevents the material from corrosion and improves overall service life.   

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS ISO 11009:2021 supersedes the first edition (ISO 11009:2000), which has been technically revised. The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows: 

• Addition of a rating of the appearance of the grease and the water after the test 
• Addition of a note concerning the application of the test results to determine symbol 3 “water contamination and rust protection“ of ISO 12924 grease specifications.