COVER PROFILE
REVOLUTIONISING
LUBRICANTS
A rapidly changing automotive industry demands high-performance solutions, particularly regarding the lubricants that support vehicle performance and longevity
T
he auto industry is changing faster than ever. New technologies, new regulatory demands, and
evolving consumer preferences have touched off a revolution in the kinds of products being offered and the materials, processes, and business models required to build and support them. Several trends are creating this
urgency. First is the continued drive toward cleaner, more efficient internal combustion engine (ICE) technology. Another is the ongoing substitution of lightweight polymer and composite materials for metal and glass in vehicle bodies, powertrains, and cabins. Yet another, and arguably the most influential of these trends, is the rapid growth of the electrical vehicle (EV) segment. Until recently, EVs were still a niche product, but by 2040 are
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expected to make up nearly 60% of global new car sales, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. As automakers adopt different
materials and technologies to stay relevant and profitable, they also need to revisit the lubricants that have long supported vehicle performance and longevity to ensure their current solutions align with tomorrow’s demands.
CHALLENGES AHEAD Lubricants have always been fundamental to vehicle powertrain performance, and their value doesn’t stop there. Lubricants help extend the life of seals, O-rings, and weather stripping, and reduce vehicle noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). Given all that we ask of them, it’s no surprise that some lubricants aren’t quite up to the current automotive challenges.
The first of these is temperature
resistance. Many conventional lubricants are simply unsuited to the demands of the new automotive landscape and today’s harsher environments. Most petroleum- based greases begin to degrade at temperatures above 100 °C (212 °F). Synthetic lubricants like diesters, polyalkylene glycols, and polyalphaolefins are likewise vulnerable to degradation. Silicones have a somewhat higher temperature threshold, but lack the stability and performance characteristics required at extreme temperatures. Second on the list is materials
compatibility. With alternatives to glass and metal increasingly part of newer auto design and luxury models, automakers need lubricants that are compatible with a variety of materials. (Some lubricant formulations, for instance, degrade plastics and elastomers.) The right lubricants can harmonize disparate vehicle materials without damaging them, eliminating NVH and delivering the quiet ride today’s consumers demand. The third challenge is dielectric
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