ARS | Publication request: Lubricant properties of ester hydroxy derivatives of methyl oleate

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 9, 2008
Publication Date: May 21, 2008
Citation: Erhan, S.Z., Sharma, B.K., Doll, K.M. 2008. Lubricant properties of ester hydroxy derivatives of methyl oleate [abstract]. American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 88.

Technical Abstract: The advantages of vegetable oil based products are their eco-friendly and non-toxic nature. The disadvantages of vegetable oils, such as poor oxidation and low temperature properties, can be improved by attaching functional groups at the sites of unsaturation through chemical modifications. In this study, we have shown how functionalization helps overcome these disadvantages. Five branched ester structures were prepared from commercially available methyl oleate and common organic acids; and their lubricant properties were determined. These branched esters are characterized as alpha-hydroxy ester derivatives of methyl oleate. These derivatives show improved low temperature properties over olefinic oleochemicals by pour point and cloud point measurements. The derivatization also increased thermo-oxidative stability, measured using both pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) and thin film micro oxidation (TFMO). Tribological behaviors were evaluated as additives, in soybean oil and polyalphaolefin, using four-ball and ball-on-disk configurations. These derivatives have good anti-wear and friction-reducing properties at relatively low concentrations under all test loads. Overall, the data indicate that some of these derivatives have significant potential to be used as lubricating base oils or additives.