Now available for wire rope and cable applications, Bel-Ray Biodegradable Wire Rope Coating Grease expands on the performance of conventional wire rope coating grease and adds the advantage of biodegradability for environmentally conscious operations. The company states that the product offers “unrivalled protection and biodegradability for wire rope coating needs” in mining applications such as rope for draglines and rope shovels. The Biodegradable Wire Rope Coating Grease is a highly biodegradable and adhesive wire rope lubricant and protectant designed for use in the most extreme environments. Using a seed-oil based, organoclay-thickened grease, the product can be applied to wire ropes and cables either manually or using clamp type pressure applicators.

Readily biodegradable, including >80% renewable bio-based components, Biodegradable Wire Rope Coating Grease is more than 60% biodegradable in 28 days according to the ASTM D5864 standard (similar to OECD 301B). A no-sheen formula also passes the 60-minute EPA Static Sheen Test. Bel-Ray states that mining operations will experience a number of benefits, including:

• Ready biodegradability: it is >60% biodegradable in 28 days with negligible environmental residue
• Excellent penetration of product into wire ropes and cables for maximum protection against rust and corrosion
• Formation of a protective film that resists water washout for long-term protection
• A proprietary formula that resists age hardening and oil separation to maintain consistency during long change intervals