Eco‐friendly base fluids for lubricant oil formulations

Abstract

AbstractThere is an increasing move towards the use of environmentally safe lubricants. However, the development of a common biodegradable base stock that could replace conventional ones is a big challenge. Synthetic lubricants, whether synthetic hydrocarbons, organic esters, or others, all have problems associated with their use. However, in general terms synthetic lubricants protect better, last longer, and outperform their conventional mineral‐based counterparts in certain applications. Future lubricant specifications in view of the demand for improved performance to meet stringent environmental regulations are the main drivers for new technological developments. As part of a study to produce polyol ester lubricant base stocks from C5 polyols and C6‐C14 carboxylic acids in the presence of eco‐friendly catalysts, a series of products has been synthesised. A biodegradable lubricant formulation for automotive transmission fluids has been developed based on a synthesised product as a base fluid. This paper reports on the physico‐chemical characteristics and performance evaluation results of this formulation, which is a promising base stock for automotive transmission fluids.