Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chulalongkorn University, 2001

Grease were prepared using palm oil as base oil and calcium or lithium soap as a thickening agent. The grease containing 22 % wt/wt of calcium or lithium soap prepared from palm oil and epoxidized palm oil were compared with those containing commercial calcium or lithium soaps prepared from 12-hydroxystearic acid or stearic acid. The prepared grease were found to have similar properties as the commercial grease, with penetration values of ~261 and ~237 and dropping point values of ~101 degree celsius and ~189 degree celsius for grease containing calcium and lithium-epoxidized palm oil soaps used as thickening agent, respectively. However, the prepared grease from palm oil and epoxidized palm oil soaps are cheaper than commercial grease from 12-hydroxystearic acid and stearic acid soap. The other properties of epoxidized palm oil were within the specification of TIS 713-2541. Therefore, the prepared grease frompalm oil and epoxidized palm oil soaps may be replaced the commercial grease.