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MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temp. Bearing Grease, Medium

MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium is an NLGI Grade 2, silicone-based bearing grease with a lithium thickener, rated for continuous operation from -40°C to 204°C (-40°F to 400°F).

Product Overview

Bearing failures in high-temperature environments almost always come down to one of two root causes: the grease melts and migrates out of the bearing, or the base oil oxidizes and leaves a hardened residue that accelerates wear. MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium addresses both.

The phenyl-methyl silicone base oil has one of the lowest evaporation rates of any grease chemistry at elevated temperatures. It does not carbonize or form deposits when pushed near its upper service limit. The lithium thickener system provides mechanical stability under shear, which matters in applications where the bearing is seeing continuous rotation and moderate loads. The result is a grease that stays in the bearing, continues to lubricate, and does not require regreasing intervals compressed by thermal degradation.

MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium is compatible with most common engineering plastics and elastomers, which makes it suitable for mixed-material assemblies common in conveyor systems, fan motor housings, and electrical switchgear. It also delivers reliable low-temperature startup performance down to -40C, making it a practical single-product solution for equipment cycling between ambient cold and high operating temperatures.

At ChemPoint, we stock MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium Medium in tube, pail, and drum quantities with same-day quotation and standard lead times of one to three business days for most package sizes. Our technical specialists can support cross-referencing against incumbent products and assist with volume pricing for planned maintenance programs.

Applications

MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium is specified for rolling element bearings in equipment where sustained high ambient or process temperatures degrade conventional lithium or lithium-complex greases. Primary applications include:
  • Data center infrastructure: rolling element bearings in CRAC unit fans, cooling tower motors, and air handler units operating in hot aisle environments where ambient bearing temperatures routinely exceed 80°C
  • Power generation and distribution: motor bearings in generator cooling fans, forced-draft fan assemblies, and transformer cooling systems; switchgear pivot bearings and actuator mechanisms exposed to heat from high-current components
  • Oil and gas: bearings in wellhead pump motors, compressor station fan assemblies, and process equipment in high-ambient upstream and midstream environments
  • Industrial thermal processing: oven fan bearings, kiln preheater fans, conveyor system bearings operating inside or adjacent to process ovens, and textile drying equipment
  • General industrial MRO: any rolling element bearing application where the operating temperature or ambient environment causes standard NLGI 2 lithium greases to degrade within normal maintenance cycles
If your application exceeds 204°C continuous service temperature, review MOLYKOTE® 41 Extreme High Temperature Bearing Grease, which is rated for higher thermal exposure using a different thickener chemistry.

Features & Benefits

  • Wide service temperature range from -40°C to 204°C (-40F to 400F): single-product solution for equipment cycling between cold startup and sustained high-temperature operation
  • Low base oil evaporation rate: silicone chemistry retains lubrication film at elevated temperatures where mineral and PAO-based greases lose base oil, reducing deposit formation and bearing wear
  • Oxidation resistance: resists breakdown and thickening from oxygen exposure at high temperatures, extending regreasing intervals compared to conventional greases in thermal applications
  • Shear stability: NLGI 2 consistency holds under mechanical stress, maintaining adequate film thickness under continuous rotation
  • Broad plastics and elastomer compatibility: suitable for assemblies incorporating PTFE, polyamide, acetal, and most common engineering plastics without causing swelling or degradation
  • Water and corrosion resistance: protects bearing surfaces in humid environments, wash-down applications, and outdoor equipment exposed to moisture
  • Low noise characteristics: formulated for applications where bearing noise is a secondary concern, such as fan motor bearings in occupied data center and commercial facilities

Problems Solved

  • Compressed regreasing intervals in high-temperature equipment: When standard NLGI 2 lithium greases are used in bearings running above 80°C to 100°C, the base oil evaporates or oxidizes faster than the recommended regreasing interval. The result is maintenance teams regreasing on a compressed schedule to prevent failure, or accepting a higher rate of unplanned bearing replacements. MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium's silicone base oil resists both evaporation and oxidative breakdown at elevated temperatures, reducing the frequency of required regreasing interventions.
  • Bearing failure from grease migration and dry-out: In high-temperature fan and motor bearings, centrifugal force and thermal cycling cause conventional greases to migrate out of the bearing cavity. Once the grease is gone, metal-to-metal contact follows. MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium's lithium thickener system and high-viscosity silicone base oil resist this migration pattern, keeping lubricant present at the rolling element contact surfaces.
  • Deposit formation from carbonized grease: Conventional petroleum-based greases that oxidize at high temperatures leave carbonized residues inside the bearing. These deposits act as abrasives and can lock up the bearing entirely. Silicone chemistry does not carbonize at its service temperature limits, which reduces the risk of deposit-induced failure and simplifies bearing cleanup during planned maintenance.
  • Grease incompatibility with plastic housing components: Mixed-material assemblies that combine metal bearings with plastic housings, retainers, or seals can suffer accelerated degradation from incompatible lubricants. MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium is compatible with a wide range of engineering plastics, eliminating the need to manage separate lubricants for metal and plastic contact surfaces in the same assembly.
  • Low-temperature startup failures in equipment with high operating temperatures: Equipment that shuts down in cold ambient conditions and restarts from cold can experience momentary dry-running if the grease has hardened excessively. MOLYKOTE® 44 High Temperature Bearing Grease, Medium maintains adequate pumpability and flow at -40C, ensuring lubricant reaches bearing surfaces at startup before operating temperatures stabilize.

Product Specifications

Product type: Grease
Base oil viscosity @ 40°C: 84
NLGI Grade: 2
Thickener: Lithium
Low temperature: −40°C (−40°C)
High temperature: 204°C (400°F)
Color: Off-white
Base oil @ 25°C: 125 cSt

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