Clay grease compositions

A lubricating grease composition comprises a major proportion of a hydrophobic lubricating oil thickened to a grease consistency by a bentonitic clay and a minor proportion of a waterproofing agent consisting of oil-soluble, water-insoluble amino amides formed between substantially saturated fatty acids having 10 to 14 carbon atoms per molecule or mixtures of these fatty acids and fatty acids having 16 to 20 carbon atoms per molecule, at least 50% by weight of the latter fatty acids containing at least one double bond per molecule, and a mixture of polyethylene polyamines, 20 to 80% by weight of the mixture being diethylene triamine and the remaining fractions being polyethylene polyamines having an average molecular weight within the range 250 to 400, by heating the fatty acids and polyamines at a temperature between 200 DEG C. and 225 DEG C. for a reaction time of 1 to 4 hours in a ratio of 0,38 to 0,50 equivalents of fatty acids for each equivalent of polyamines. The base oil may be a mineral oil, a silicone, a diester, a phosphate, a polyether or a mixture of these. The mixture of polyethylene polyamines may be that p obtained as bottoms in the preparation of ethylene diamine from ethylene dichloride and ammonia. The C10 to C14 acids may be obtained from coconut oil and the C16 to C20 acids from tall oil; the former may include capric, undecylic, lauric, tridecylic and myristic acids, and the latter may include linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids with up to 50% of stearic acid. The compositions may also include sodium nitrite, dicyclohexylammonium nitrite, diisopropylammonium nitrite, sebacic, adipic, azelaic, pimelic and suberic acids and salts thereof, and diarylamines especially those containing phenyl and naphthyl groups (many examples are given). Specification 850,913 is referred to.