Synthesis of guerbet esters and its application in drilling and grinding oil

Abstract

Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are an inevitable component of the manufacturing industry. To enhance the efficiency of metal operations, different additives are used. Guerbet alcohol is a branched compound esterified with saturated fatty acids of short, medium and long chains such as butyric acid, lauric acid and stearic acid respectively. In this study, guerbet esters were synthesized and their applicability in lubricant formulations was studied. To understand their interaction, the synthesized esters were blended with a base oil SN 150 and other additives such as Dialkyl Pentasulfide (DAPS) and chlorinated paraffin wax (CPW). The performance properties of these esters were evaluated by wear scar diameter (WSD) and compared with commercial Trimethylolpropane Trioleate (TMPTO). The esters were found to be suitable for cutting oil formulations due to their characteristics like lubricating properties and biodegradability. Grinding oil and Drilling Oil formulations of each ester with the same concentration were formulated and the properties like colour, appearance, total acid number (TAN), kinematic viscosities (KV) at 40 °C and 100 °C, viscosity index (VI) and WSD were evaluated. Overall performance of guerbet esters was found to be satisfactory when compared to the commercial TMPTO esters.