Epoxidized soybean oil as a potential source of high-temperature lubricants

Development and application of biocompatible lubricants are increasing daily as a result of stringent regulations imposed on mineral oil-based lubricants with their non-biodegradable toxic wastes. Before consumer acceptance of vegetable oil-based lubricants, they must overcome certain poor performance characteristics such as thermal and oxidative instabilities. This work demonstrates the improved performance of epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) over soybean oil (SBO) and genetically modified high oleic soybean oil (HOSBO) in certain high temperature lubricant application. We validated the thermal and deposit forming tendencies of these oils using micro-oxidation and differential scanning calorimetry in conjunction with identification of oxidized products by infrared spectroscopy and also discussed the function of a phenolic antioxidant in these oils. Boundary lubrication properties under high load and low speed were determined and the variations explained based on the structural differences of these vegetable oils.

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