ARS | Publication request: ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BIOBASED LUBRICANTS

Submitted to: Pacifichem Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2005
Publication Date: December 15, 2005
Citation: Erhan, S.Z., Sharma, B.K. 2005. Environmentally friendly biobased lubricants [abstract]. PacifiChem 2005, December 15-20,2005, Honolulu, Hawaii. p. 877.

Technical Abstract: The search for environmentally friendly materials that have the potential to substitute for mineral oil in various industrial applications is currently being considered a top priority research topic in the fuel and energy sector. This emphasis is largely due to the rapid depletion of world fossil fuel reserves and increasing concern for environmental pollution from excessive mineral oil use and their disposal especially in loss lubrication, military applications, and in outdoor activities such as forestry, mining, railroads, dredging, fishing and agriculture hydraulic systems. Vegetable oils have the capability to contribute towards the goal of energy independence and security due to their naturally renewable resource. Vegetable oils are promising candidates as base fluid for eco-friendly lubricants because of their excellent lubricity, biodegradability, better viscosity-temperature characteristics and low evaporation loss. Their use, however, is restricted due to low thermo-oxidative stability and poor cold flow behavior. This paper presents a systematic approach to improve the oxidation and cold flow behavior of vegetable oil derivatives and the study of antioxidant/antiwear additive synergism in vegetable oils. Among the various possible avenues available, the combination of chemical additives and high-oleic vegetable oils offer the best option for achieving the ultimate goal. Vegetable oil-based lubricants formulated using the above approach exhibit superior biodegradability in comparison with commercially available lubricants.