[TR] dielectric grease

[Randall]

> So, if he was correct, what's unique about dielectric 
> specific grease? 

I don't know that anything is "unique" about it.  It's just optimized for
certain types of service.

As the name implies, it probably has a higher dielectric strength than
'ordinary' grease (meaning it is more difficult for a spark to jump through
it).  It also has a relatively low film strength, so it's easy to make a
contact through it; but tends to cling to surfaces.  Good thermal stability;
low thermal resistance (conducts heat); good weather resistance. Don't know
for sure, but I would guess that it also exhibits less leakage (higher
electrical resistance) than lithium-based greases.  And from what I've seen,
it also doesn't dry out as much over time as at least older greases did.

Just like the endless debate over trunnion fluifs, it's not so much that one
is right and everything else is wrong.  More a question of which is "better"
(or even how to define "better") when they are all pretty good.

BTW, there are conductive greases, but they have been deliberately made that
way; usually by adding fine metal particles.

Randall