ARS | Publication request: TRIBOLOGICAL AND OXIDATION PROPERTIES OF CHEMICALLY MODIFIED VEGETABLE OILS AS LUBRICANTS

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 31, 2004
Publication Date: May 1, 2004
Citation: Sharma, B.K., Adhvaryu, A., Liu, Z., Erhan, S.Z. 2004. Tribological and oxidation properties of chemically modified vegetable oils as lubricants. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 78.

Technical Abstract: Due to unfavorable impact on the environment by mineral oil based lubricants, there has been a steady increase in the demand for biodegradable, environment friendly lubricants. However, development of a biodegradable base fluid that could replace conventional mineral oil is a big challenge. Vegetable oils are recognized as a fast biodegradable fluid and are thus promising candidates for the base fluid of the environment friendly lubricants. Vegetable oils have fine lubricating properties, but poor oxidation and low temperature stability. This paper presents a systematic approach to improve the existing tribological, oxidation and cold flow behavior of vegetable oil derivatives. A series of structural modification of vegetable oils using anhydrides of different chain lengths were investigated. The reaction was monitored and products confirmed by NMR and FTIR analysis. The base fluids exhibit superior oxidation stability, improved low temperature stability and better wear properties compared to vegetable oils.