Re: Grease and waxes

On 7/3/2024 12:18 AM, John B. wrote:

On Mon, 01 Jul 2024 20:31:48 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:
 

On Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:12:30 GMT, Tom Kunich <cyclintom@yahoo.com>
wrote:
>

As usual the obvious candidates without a shred of knowledge of chemistry told you all that I didn't know what I was talking about when I said that Silca was making a block that looked like Chocolate that converted grease to wax.

>
It seems that we're sliding down the slippery slope that ends in yet
another chain lubrication alchemy discussion.  Oh well.  Let the
tribology begin.
>
I do recall you mentioning something about Silca.  It would have been
nice if you had included your source of (mis)information.
<https://silca.cc/blogs/silca/chain-waxing-system-and-stripchip-faq>
<https://youtu.be/cEnD95UwE3w>
The process is called "oleogelation".  It's mostly used for converting
unhealthy saturated fats into somewhat less healthy unsaturated fats:
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7022307/>
Beyond what I've just read about the topic, I know nothing. Therefore,
you are welcome to speculate whether bicycles are faster with either
type of fat.
>

I have continued to be curious why people that know nothing
would say things about which they know nothing.

>
It would seem that you've never listened to a political debate.
>

Grease and wax asr ONE chemical chain from being the same thing.

>
Ummmm... no.  They're close, but not that close:
<https://www.quora.com/Organic-Chemistry-What-if-anything-is-the-official-difference-between-oil-fat-wax-and-grease>
>
"Most basically, oils and fats are triglycerides; fatty acid esters of
glycerine, oils being liquid at room temperature and fats being solid.
Waxes are esters of a fatty acid and a fatty alcohol. I am
deliberately not including substances of mineral origin."
>
"Oils are liquid at room temperature, fat is solid at room
temperature, wax is generally nonedible but malleable at or near room
temperature, and grease is a used oil or fat that contains high free
fatty acids or other solids from having cooked food."
>

Where the hell do you get Candle Wax from - TALLOW - which is animal
fat.

>
Ummm... you could make candles from tallow, but today's candles are
made from paraffin wax and stearic acid.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle>
If you've ever smelled a burning tallow candle, you'll understand why
organic chemists were searching for alternatives.  Some of the
alternatives candle wax compounds were equally disgusting:
"Unravelling the Science of Candle Odours: Tallow Candles"
<https://highlandcandlecompany.com/unravelling-the-science-of-candle-odours-tallow-candles/>
Votive or prayer candles were frequently doped with more pleasant
smelling aromatic perfumes to hide the tallow stench.
>

The lubricating grease on a new chain (SRAM no longer put this
grease on a chain) is petroleum based but the chemistry is the same.

 Some years back there was considerable talk about heating chain lube
so it flowed into the chain better and I made a wax heater from a
electric cooking pot and used it for years. No thermostat so I
eyeballed it but it did seem to lengthen chain life considerably.
 

Right you are. Chain wear is inside, between rivet and roller (or interrupted sideplate bushes). The roller does not move on the teeth*. Anything on the outside of the chain is just picks up dirt to no useful purpose.
* ideally. It does abrade when rusty, crudded or otherwise not moving properly.
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971