Classification and Characteristics of Base Oils in Metalworking Oils/Liquids
Release time:
2021-11-25
Author:
Goncord Oil
Metalworking oils and fluids consist of base oils and additives, with base oils accounting for the vast majority—70% to 95% in neat oils and 30% to 85% in water-based formulations such as emulsions and microemulsions. The base oil is fundamental, while additives are critical. Consequently, whether considering product performance or cost control, the selection of base oils plays a pivotal role in metalworking oils and fluids.
Source: Science China
Metalworking oils and fluids consist of base oils and additives, with base oils accounting for the vast majority—70% to 95% in neat oils and 30% to 85% in water-based formulations such as emulsions and microemulsions. The base oil is fundamental, while additives are critical. Consequently, whether considering product performance or cost control, the selection of base oil plays a pivotal role in metalworking oils and fluids.
Base oils can be broadly classified as follows:
I. Mineral Base Oils
Mineral base oils are refined from crude oil, and their primary production processes include atmospheric or vacuum distillation, solvent deasphalting, solvent refining, solvent dewaxing, and clay‑ or hydrogenation‑based secondary refining. Mineral base oils are widely used in metalworking fluids, accounting for more than 90% of the total base oil volume in such formulations. The chemical composition of mineral base oils comprises a mixture of high‑boiling, high‑molecular‑weight hydrocarbons and nonhydrocarbon compounds. Their typical constituents include alkanes (straight‑chain, branched, and highly branched), cycloalkanes (mono‑, bi‑, and polycyclic), aromatics (mono‑ and polycyclic), naphthenoaromatics, as well as oxygen‑, nitrogen‑, and sulfur‑containing organic compounds, along with nonhydrocarbon substances such as resins and asphaltenes.
II. Synthetic Base Oils
Synthetic base oils are base oils produced through chemical synthesis. There are many types of synthetic base oils, including synthetic hydrocarbons, synthetic esters, polyethers, silicone oils, fluorinated oils, and phosphate esters. Compared with mineral oils, synthetic base oils offer superior thermal‑oxidative stability, higher thermal decomposition temperatures, and better low‑temperature performance, enabling equipment components to operate under more demanding conditions; however, they come at a higher cost.
III. Vegetable-Based Base Oils
Vegetable oils offer the following advantages as base oils: excellent lubricity and biodegradability, renewable resources, and non-toxicity. Their price is lower than that of synthetic base oils—only 1.5 to 3 times that of mineral oil—but their main drawbacks are poor thermal‑oxidative stability and hydrolytic stability, along with a tendency to support microbial growth and spoilage, which limits their applications. Nevertheless, as companies today seek ways to reduce environmental impact—and this “natural” type of lubricant aligns with that goal—vegetable‑oil‑based base oils can still compete in certain areas with more expensive, biodegradable synthetic esters. Moreover, their performance shortcomings can be addressed through improved cultivation practices and the addition of appropriate additives.
Our company has also conducted extensive research in this area. Harmony and collaboration are the foundation of sustainable development, and we hope to see positive progress for both society and the environment.
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