PTFE thickener?

[buck91]

I've only ever seen Super-Lube use PTFE as a thickener, and allegedly ONY uses PTFE as a thickener. Seems to work well enough in my experience and somehow resists washout pretty well. Is there any objective data comparing this to a more traditional grease like lithium complex or calcium sulfonate?

 

[crashz]

The way I understand it, the thickener is meant to keep the lubricant in suspension within the grease under various temps and pressures. It doesn't provide lubrication itself. However many low speed / extreme pressure greases have a solid lubricant additive like moly. Texas Refinery uses a solid that looks like little gold flakes (not gold). It doesn't surprise me that other companies would use PTFE. I believe I've seen graphite as well.