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Investigation of Biobased and Petroleum Base Oils in the Entire Spectrum of Lubrication Regimes

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Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Abstract

The tribological properties of biobased and petroleum-based base oils in the entire lubrication regime were investigated. High oleic sunflower oil (HOSuO) and commercially available polyalphaolefin (PAO-6) were selected to represent biobased and petroleum-based base oils, respectively. These two oils had similar viscosity and pressure-viscosity coefficient at 40 °C, but differed in their chemical structures and many other properties. Tribological tests were conducted on a high frequency reciprocating rig tribometer at 40 and 75 °C, for 60 min, 1000 gf load, and variable combinations of frequency and stroke length. Lubrication regimes were quantified using the Hersey number (H) which was calculated from lubricant viscosity and test parameters (load, frequency, stroke length). The key tribological test outputs were coefficient of friction (COF); film thickness (h) expressed in % from contact resistance measurement; and ball wear scar diameter (WSD). Analysis of experimental data showed that the biobased HOSuO provided lower COF, thicker lubricant film, and lower WSD than the petroleum-based PAO-6, in all lubrication regimes and at both temperatures (40 and 75 °C). The difference in these properties between the two oils, [Δ(COF), Δ(WSD), Δ(h)], were the greatest in the boundary regimes (low H values) where the polar chemical structure of the biobased lubricant played a dominant role.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Mr. Kevin Steidley for technical assistance with the HFRR experiments, and Ineos Oligomers (League City, TX, USA) for the free sample of Durasyn 166 (PAO-6) used in this investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio-Oils Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

    Girma Biresaw, Grigor B. Bantchev & Rex E. Murray

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  1. Girma Biresaw
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  2. Grigor B. Bantchev
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  3. Rex E. Murray
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Correspondence to Girma Biresaw.

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Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Biresaw, G., Bantchev, G.B. & Murray, R.E. Investigation of Biobased and Petroleum Base Oils in the Entire Spectrum of Lubrication Regimes. J Am Oil Chem Soc 94, 1197–1208 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-017-3019-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-017-3019-6

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