Decrease in grease consistency (softening) as a result of shearing, followed by an increase in consistency (hardening) after shearing is stopped. (Thixotropic age hardening is a relatively prolonged process proportional to aging time and is seldom, if ever, complete. In contrast, the apparent viscosity increase in non-Newtonian systems with decreasing shear rate is instantaneous and fully reversible. Lubricating grease is both thixotropic and non-Newtonian.)
