ARS | Publication request: Oxidation, Low Temperature, and Lubricating Properties of Chemically-modified Methyl Oleates

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2008
Publication Date: June 6, 2008
Citation: Erhan, S.Z., Sharma, B.K., Doll, K.M. 2008. Oxidation, Low Temperature, and Lubricating Properties of Chemically-modified Methyl Oleates [abstract]. Lubmat Conference & Exhibition. p. 2.

Technical Abstract: The inherent problems 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 modification. 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. These branched esters are characterized as alpha-hydroxy ester derivatives of methyl oleate. Pour point and cloud point measurements have shown that this derivatization improved low temperature properties over olefinic oleochemicals. 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 indicates that some of these derivatives have significant potential to be used as lubricating base oils or additives.