Development of ecologically responsive lubricants

As a result of growing environmental concerns, vegetable oils are finding their way into lubricants for both industrial and transportation applications. These oils can offer significant environmental advantages with respect to resource renewability and biodegradability, as well as offering satisfactory performance in various applications. Formulating with vegetable oils does, however, present unique challenges. These are, most notably, the oxidative and hydrolytic instability, and low temperature rheological problems associated with triglycerides. However, through advanced plant breeding techniques, vegetable oils are becoming available which exhibit good thermal and oxidative stability and other improved performance properties. An overview comparing the physical and chemical characteristics of vegetable oils with those of mineral oils, with particular emphasis on their oxidative stability and wear performance, is presented. Development of lubricant formulations for, in particular, farm tractors and hydraulic fluids, using combinations of vegetable oils and additives, will be discussed in comparison with field trial data.