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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2000 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Annual consumption of oil-based lubricants in the U.S. is close to 10 million metric tons valued at more than $8 billion. This is well established and a highly competitive market growing at an average rate of less than 1% per year. More than 70% of total lubricant volume are used as motor oils for automotive engines and approx. 10% as hydraulic fluids. Other application areas, mostly industrial lubricants, are less significant. Major components in lubricants are basestock (usually 80-100%) and additives, which are used to enhance the most important properties, depending on the application. Most of the basestocks originate from petroleum, including many synthetic esters and polyalphaolefins. Vegetable oil basestocks and other vegetable-based fluids have seen a quite promising increase in use as biodegradable lubricants over the last decade, however, still less than 2% of all basestocks are products of oleochemical and related industries. These basestocks are mostly used for biodegradable hydraulic fluids. Other areas of vegetable oil usage are relatively small: cutting oils, two stroke engine oils, chainsaw bar oils, wire-rope oils, bicycle chain oils, railroad oils, pump oils, outboard engine oils, drilling oils and other niche markets. |
