The Usage of New Generation Vegetable Esters for Metal Working Fluids (MWF)

Natural fats and fatty acids which are produced from vegetables by chemical reactions recently have been started to use at MWF applications. They are especially preferred for their higher lubrication capability due to their ester form in comparison to conventional mineral oils, better performance at high environmental temperatures, lower volatility and almost 100% biodegradability. Esters have much better viscosity indexes than conventional mineral oils (less viscosity drop due to temperature) and they have better oxidation stability and longer service life as well. In comparison to paraffinic based oils, ester forms have much better lubrication capabilities, EP and AW properties. Evaporation loss is also much less than mineral oils. For this reason esters decrease corrosion and abrasion rates and they have longer shelf life.Today, many esters with different formulations and properties are produced. In addition to esters with very low viscosities, esters like TMP-TO are also preferred in industrial applications of compressor oil, chain oil and most well-known water-resistant hydraulic oils, etc. Thanks to their pour point below -50°C and high flash point of 350°C, they are used in all kinds of industrial applications and processes requiring lubrication.

Vegetable Esters and Vegetable Ester Solvents

Today, the usage of vegetable-based solvents and esters has started in very different MWF and industrial applications. The basic reason for this situation is the vegetable origin of the product despite its solvent nature, with high flash point and environmental friendliness—high levels of biodegradation rates. They have no toxic or hazardous properties which must be mentioned on their safety data sheets. Also, since the products are not suitable for use in fuels like conventional solvents, they are not subject to any special permit or special consumption tax.

Estichem Vegetable Based Solvent Esters

Estisol 300, a vegetable-based solvent ester product, and EstiClean AR-Plus, a special mixture of esters and cleaners which is able to remove all organic impurities and asphalt.

Sulphurised and Polymeric Esters (AW and EP Additives)

Esters are produced by chemical reactions from vegetable fatty oils and acids or their olefins. These chemical reactions are achieved in highly developed reactors under high pressure, temperature and vacuum control. The EPOIL range of Sulphurised Extreme Pressure (EP) additives manufactured by Hornett Bros and Co Ltd are a complex reaction of esters and sulphur, the ester part providing metal wetting and lubricity properties and the sulphur providing EP properties. Sulphur containing EP additives chemically react with the metal surfaces at elevated temperatures caused by friction under high loads to produce new compounds that act as a barrier to reduce friction, wear and the possibility of welding.

Hornett Sulphurised Esters (EP and AW Additives)

OCP (Olefin Co-Polymer) and Synthetic Styrene Polymer Technologies

OCP and styrene-based polymers are used to increase the viscosity of oils and to make them multi-grade (such as 5W-30 and 15W40 engine oils). Today, polymers with different forms and properties are used. OCP (Olefin Co-Polymer) and Styrene-Butadiene Rubber, PAMA (Poly-Methyl-Methacrylate) are the most preferred polymer types. In the application of these polymers in engine oils, the property known as SSI (Shear Stability Index) should be noted. SSI shows the structural deformation and loss of the polymers after they are used in test engines. Smaller SSI numbers mean more synthetic polymers which also mean less structural deformation. Currently, the most preferred polymers in engine oil production are OCP polymers with low SSI number and easy melting features like 20 ~ 22 SSI Viscotech 6540. For synthetic DPF engine oils, the most preferred product is 0 ~ 5 SSI Viscotech 494-L Styrene Polymer.

PPD (Poly-Methyl Acrylate) and PAMA (Poly-Methyl-Methacrylate)

With their most common name "PPDs" are the synthetic polymers which are used as pour point depressants in lubricant oils. Thanks to their PM (poly-methylacrylate) polymer forms, showing elasticity properties, they delay the freezing of the oil at low temperatures and bring the viscosity to optimum levels. As for PAMA products, due to their unique polymeric structure (poly-methyl-methacrylate), although they show PPD properties, they are heavy molecule polymers. Their main application target is to increase the viscosity index. They increase the viscosity index as well as the viscosity of the lubricants (in other words, they prevent the viscosity of the lubricants from falling and changing with temperature). As special polymer products from Additiv Chemie Luers, Kusapour 300 (PPD) and Kusacryl 840 (PAMA) increase the VI of the lubricants by decreasing the pour points despite their very low usage rates (0.1–0.3%)., Ümit Özvardar Sales Manager Troychem DMCC