drain interval, a better viscosity index, higher shear stability, and chemical resistance. They are less volatile and more stable and, because it is possible to adjust the chemistry of these molecules, polyolesters can be designed with the specific properties needed for a variety of certain applications. Whilst polyolester oils can be used for automotive applications, a growing use is as compressor oil in refrigeration systems. In 2018, the global compressor oil market size was estimated to be USD 10 billion3


their use is projected to increase the demand for renewable raw materials in the near future.


There are also growing direct, and indirect, policy incentives for the use of greener lubricants for certain applications in environmentally sensitive areas7


. , and expected to grow


to more than USD 13 billion by 2023. Polyolester oils are expected to be the largest segment of that market during the forecast period.


Thanks to the possibility of tailoring the chemistry of esters, a key advantage of polyolester based lubricants in refrigeration systems is their compatibility with new refrigerant gases that are replacements for ozone harming hydrochlorofluorocarbons. As legislation on refrigerants is getting increasingly stricter, so the phasing out of these ozone-depleting refrigerants continues. There is also a strong move towards low GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants.


This is important because the refrigerant and cooling industry globally is forecast to grow significantly by 2050, attributed to the roll out of new food storage and cooling units due to rapid population growth and higher global disposable income. In China alone the proportion of homes with air-conditioning spiralled from 8% to 70% between 1995 and 20044 than 60-million5


. More cooling systems are sold every year,


more than eight times as many as are sold in the United States.


Polyolesters going green Until recently, eco-friendly industrial lubricants were a niche trend, but now these alternatives are starting to gain traction and their production is growing significantly in a bid to reduce pollution and carbon footprints. Although renewable lubricants comprise only a fraction of the total industry today, there is growing awareness among formulators and end-users6


of the need for greater sustainability and


1 2 3


4 5 6 7 8


https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190207123223.htm https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/oil-and-gas/our-insights/lubes-growth-opportunities-remain-despite-switch-to-electric-vehicles


https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/compressor-oil-market-193873333.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzunmBRDsARIsAGrt4mvCZmBjRscEFuAyYBZG1 QB36oI9H-83omgYixzOinnpaqxfHiahsdYaAgP7EALw_wcB


https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/26/how-america-became-addicted-to-air-conditioning https://www.pnas.org/content/112/19/5962


https://knowledge.ulprospector.com/8533/lmf-sustainable-industrial-lubricants-market/ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/


https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejlt.200900205


As well as improved carbon outcomes and energy efficiency, the shift towards biodegradability is increasingly important. Research8


has found that


between 13-32% of all lubricants end up back in the environment. Bio-based polyols are biodegradable and this is critical for the longer term protection of nature.


Challenges


Despite the huge benefits of polyols there are challenges. Price is one. Currently, mineral oils are cheaper in what is a very price driven market.


Perception and mindset are others. In the automotive segment manufactures are seen as being very conservative and traditional however, in line with other market segments, this is starting to change. It’s expected that as the polyol and bio-polyol industry advances, more synthetic oil will be introduced, perhaps initially increasing the cost, but at some point in time there will be a tipping point.


The future is bright


Notwithstanding the challenges, companies such as Perstorp continue to further expand their Pro-Environment portfolio with a range of sustainable acids and, with funding from the Swedish Energy Agency, it is investigating the production of recycled methanol.


All of these initiatives will enable synthetic-lubricant producers to make even more sustainable, more renewable products and this sharpened sustainability profile is good for producers, consumers and the planet.


LINK www.perstorp.com


LUBE MAGAZINE NO.153 OCTOBER 2019


29


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