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Title: BIOBASED DRY FILM METALWORKING LUBRICANTS

Author
item Biresaw, Girma

Submitted to: Journal of Synthetic Lubrication
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2003
Publication Date: 4/1/2004
Citation: Biresaw, G. 2004. Biobased dry film metalworking lubricants. Journal of Synthetic Lubricants. 21(1):43-57.

Interpretive Summary: Prices of farm products are highly dependent on the demand relative to supply. The balance between supply and demand affects the income of farmers. Over the years, oversupply of farm products has led to price declines, negatively affecting the income of farmers. One way of increasing the demand for farm products is by displacing petroleum-based products used in lubrication and other applications, by ag-based products. This will also have the additional benefit of reducing the dependence of the US economy on resource-limited petroleum reserves. In this work, dry film metalworking lubricants were formulated using starch-soybean oil composites and their friction properties evaluated. The results indicated a dependence of friction properties on the thickness of the applied dry film lubricant. This was attributed to changes in the surface chemistry of the dry film lubricant over time. Such studies are essential for successfully replacing petroleum-based lubricants, which were developed over several decades, by ag-based solid film lubricant formulations.

Technical Abstract: Metalworking lubricants must allow the manufacture of acceptable products at competitive cost without causing harm to operators or the environment. One way of attaining such a goal is through the use of biobased raw materials in lubricant formulations. Biobased materials are generally non-toxic, easily biodegradable, and abundantly available from renewable agricultural sources. However, successful application of biobased materials in lubrication requires a thorough understanding of the tribochemical properties of agricultural products. Recent studies have shown that biobased lubricants comprising starch and vegetable oils have promising lubrication properties. This paper discusses recent investigations into the effect of film thickness on the friction properties of dry film lubricants formulated from starch-soybean oil composites.