ARS | Publication request: Estolides - Ready for commercialization

Submitted to: Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 13, 2010
Publication Date: May 15, 2011
Citation: Cermak, S.C., Bredsguard, J.W., John, B.L., Isbell, K.N., Durham, A.L., Isbell, T.A. 2011. Estolides - Ready for commercialization [abstract]. Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Annual Meeting & Exhibition. p. 107.

Technical Abstract: Estolides have shown great promise as a bio-based lubricant and are ready for commercialization. Estolides are nontoxic and biodegradable. Testing has shown estolides have increased oxidative stability over vegetable oil based lubricants and have a relatively low pour point, allowing them to be used in a wide range of applications. Estolides are formed when the carboxylic acid functionality of one fatty acid links to the site of unsaturation of another fatty acid to form an ester. Estolides were derived from a number of raw material sources and evaluated. In addition, a one-pot process was performed in which the ester functionality of an estolide ester was varied. The estolide esters were converted to their corresponding hydroxy fatty acid and the degree of polymerization and iodine values were determined by Gas Chromatography analysis. Physical properties (pour and cloud points, viscosities, viscosity index, and color) of these estolide esters will be compared to commercial products.