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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #172803
Title: NATURAL OILS AS LUBRICANTS

Author
item RUDNICK, LESLIE - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
item Erhan, Sevim

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2005
Publication Date: 1/3/2006
Citation: Rudnick, L.R., Erhan, S.Z. 2006. Natural oils as lubricants. In: Rudnick, L.R., editor. Synthetics, mineral oils, and bio-based lubricants. Chapter 21. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 353-360.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The last decade has seen a slow but steady move toward the use of 'environmentally friendly' or more readily biodegradable lubricant fluids. Biodegradability has become one of the most important design parameters both in the selection of the base fluid and in the overall formulation of the finished lubricant. By more readily biodegradable it is meant that the fluids, using standard methods and assays, are converted from the lubricating fluids to lower molecular weight components that have essentially no environmental impact. The rate at which lubricants, and other chemicals or additive components, biodegrade is related to their chemical structure. Their chemical structure affects their properties, many of which affect performance in the various tests for biodegradability. For example, water solubility is critical in some tests for biodegradability, and toxicity is very important, because if the lubricant is toxic and reduces the organism population, then this directly and negatively impacts the process of biodegradation.