ARS | Publication request: Automotive gear oil lubricant from soybean oil

Submitted to: Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 13, 2010
Publication Date: May 15, 2011
Citation: Arca, M., Perez, J.M., Sharma, B.K., Doll, K.M. 2011. Automotive gear oil lubricant from soybean oil [abstract]. Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Annual Meeting. p. 142.

Technical Abstract: The use of lubricants that are based on renewable materials is rapidly increasing. Vegetable oils have good lubricity, wear protection and low volatility which are desired properties for automotive gear lubricant applications. Soybean oil is used widely in the lubricant industry due to its properties and availability in the United States. However, in gear oil applications, soybean oil suffers from insufficient viscosity and oxidative stability. In this study, thermal polymerization of soybean oil for gear oil applications is studied. Heat-bodied soybean oil is prepared at different viscosity grades. Oxidative stability, deposit formation tendency, lubricity, and additive compatibilities are studied. Finally, additive packages are evaluated in order to synthesize a biobased gear oil that will meet API GL-5 specifications.