Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1412702
40 | September - October 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com Vegetable-based Oils Lubricant Application Other Consumer Uses Rapeseed Oil Chainsaw bar Biodiesel, cooking Canola Oil Hydraulic oil, tractor transmission fluid, metal working fluids, food grade lubes, penetrating oils, chain bar lubes Biodiesel, detergent, photography, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, ink, paper, textile Castor Oil Gear lubricants, greases, hydraulic fluid, brake fluid Paints, dyes, coatings, inks, cold-resistant plastics, waxes, polishes, nylon, pharmaceuticals, perfumes Palm Oil Rolling lubricant-steel industry, grease Olive Oil Automotive Cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, soaps, lamp fuel Jojoba Oil Grease, lubricant applications Cosmetics Crambe Oil Grease, intermediate chemicals, surfactants Coatings, plastics, polyesters, nylon, cosmetics Sunflower Oil Grease, diesel fuel substitute Cooking, cosmetics emollient Cuphea Oil Motor oil Cosmetics Linseed Oil Cutting fluid Coatings, paints, lacquers, varnishes, stains Coconut Oil Gas engine oil Cooking, sunscreen, moisturizers Peanut Oil Less used Cooking/frying Cotton Seed Oil General use Cooking Corn Oil General use Industrial cleaner, gas and diesel fuel, cosmetics, liquid soaps, shampoos, cooking Animal-based Oils and Fats Lubricant Application Other Consumer Uses Fish Oil Less used Drying oil, paints, varnishes, lacquers, resins, caulks, sealants, inks, putty, cooking Tallow Steam cylinder oil Soaps, biodiesel, printing, candles, flux Whale Oil Watches, delicate instruments, Soap, tempering steel, dressing for leather Lard Cutting oils, sulfurized lard as an additive Soaps, cooking ENERGY CONSERVATION, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT Biodegradabilit y gives all bio-lubes an important role anywhere the oil in an application has a higher risk of leaking into the environment, while still providing the minimum lubrication requirements. This makes bio-based lubricants a desirable option for applications in forestry, automotive, farm, railroad and power transmission for hydrau- lics, chains, gears, compressors, wire ropes and transformers, to name a few. Vegetable-based oils are the most common amongst bio-lubes. While these are generally at least 50% more expensive than mineral oil, the benefits do not always favor the equipment's primary lubrication needs. Depending on the sources of a vegetable-based oil, such as soybean, rapeseed, sunflower seeds or castor beans, they each contribute natural benefits, including lubricity, high flash point and high viscosity index. But most vegetable-based oils underperform in important factors like oxidation stability, low-temperature proper- ties or long-term storage stability. is can be partly overcome by formulating with a higher quality sourced product and with more extensive refining processes (chemical modifi- cations) and being properly additized for the application. Most vegetable-based oils rely heavily on antioxidants to delay degradation and hardening over time. Nonetheless, envi- ronmental benefits like biodegradability are generally considered a balanced tradeoff to the lubrication benefits like oxidation stability and thermal stability. While mineral-based and vegetable-based lubrica nts have signif ica nt dif ferences, they both have crucia l applications in the industr y. The more highly-ref ined mineral oils are most popular in industrial equipment, largely because of the long- term stabilit y and reasonable price. e hydrocarbon structures of the petroleum product allow for good oxidative stability, thermal stability and suitability for a range of viscosities, making them a go-to choice for general grease applications, gearboxes, pumps, motors and most other industrial machines. Synthetics often provide more improved advantages over mineral oils or vegetable-based oils but come at a higher price. However, as more environmentally friendly lubricants become necessary, the vegetable-based oils will be a likely option. A s lubricant manufacturers continue to innovate, we might even see animal-based or other biological sources find their way into the industry as the next leading bio-based lubricants. ML Acknowledgement to Ben Marquis as a contributing author. About the Author Bennett Fitch is the Chief Strategy Officer for Noria C or porat ion. He is a mechanical engineer who holds a Machinery Lubrication Engineer (MLE) certification, a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level III certification and a Machine Lubrication Tech- nician (MLT) Level II certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Bennett at bfitch@noria.com.