Lubricant market mineral oils

Current developments refer to the use of specially designed fatty acid esters in a wide range of applications as biodegradable lubricants. Meanwhile, environmentally friendly alternatives are available for almost all mineral oil-based products. In Europe, the long-term potential is estimated to be 10-20% of the total market (500000-1000000 tonnes year-1, Table 4.4) [15b], In 1997, 40000 tonnes... 

Lubricants Mineral-based lubricants lead the lubricant market. However, with the advancement of the need for biodegradable products, vegetable oils have become popular, because of they are also better lubricants. The fatty acid composition of vegetable oils, however, is one major disadvantage. Oils rich in saturated fatty acids have poor low-temperature flow properties, and those rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids are of low oxidative resistance. Vegetable oils rich in monoun-samrated fatty acids have optimum oxidative stability and low-temperature properties (125). 

These esters are recommended as lubricity additives for the metalworking market and are oil soluble water emulsif-iable. Especially as a replacement for mineral oil in cutting fluids and drawing compounds. STEPAN C-40 finds application in the formulation of aluminum beverage can drawing lubricants. 

As expected, the major producers of PAO, esters, PIB and alkylaromatics are integrated petroleum eompanies that supply conventional mineral oil base stocks and petrochemicals as well as various synthetic base stocks. PAG, phosphate esters and silicone fluids are manufactured by chemical companies that produce these fluids on a much larger scale mainly for other applications. Their use as lubricant base stocks is only a fraction of the total market. Table 1 summarizes the major synthetic base stock producers. 

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