SECTOR FOCUS: BASE OILS
The “Plus” in Base Stocks: Meaning & Lubricant Implications
Dr. Dennis Gaal, B&S Technology Marketing Support and Application Development Group Lead, ExxonMobil
As environmental regulations evolve and automotive technology advances, there’s a growing need for lubricants to achieve better fuel economy through lower viscosity, while still providing exceptional engine protection. These new lubricant specifications have led to increasing interest in semi-synthetic and synthetic lubricants around the world. In fact, the global synthetic lubricants market is projected to reach $18.8 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8% from 2019 to 20261
.
Semi-synthetic and synthetic lubricants are created using advanced base stocks mixed with a variety of additives to have the exact qualities needed for a specific application. Base stocks make up anywhere from 75-99% of finished lubricant products. This growing demand for advanced lubricants has consequently increased the use of higher performance base stocks, some of which are known as “plus” base stocks. However, as it stands, neither American Petroleum Institute (API) nor the Technical Association of the European Lubricants Industry (ATIEL) have standardised definitions of “plus” base stocks in reference to the larger industry scope.
As suppliers are forging ahead and introducing “plus” base stocks (Group I+, II+, and III+) to meet the rise in demand, questions remain around what the “plus” in base stocks means, what the key differentiators are for “plus” base stocks, and how this advent impacts finished lubricants. To answer these questions, it’s important to first understand the history of “plus” base stocks.
The advent and history of “plus” base stocks There is no formal definition of “plus” base stocks. Rather the “plus” is established by the performance that the base stock enables, recognising that these engineered fluids have a significant impact
on a finished lubricants’ physical properties and performance.
Base stock production is an intricate process with many variabilities that can alter the properties of the base stock if not actively controlled. Base stock properties like viscosity, pour point, cold cranking viscosity, NOACK volatility, oxidative stability and more must meet specific thresholds in order to perform well in their intended applications. Lubricant marketers therefore need to choose the right base stock for their formulation needs in order to protect their lubricant brands and optimise the value of their base stocks supply.
The development of “plus” base stocks was primarily driven by the need for higher quality lubricants in the automotive industry. Specifically, the industry shifted towards lower viscosity engine oils such as the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 5W-30 in 1984. The numbers refer to the thickness, or viscosity, of the oil. Motor oil gets thicker when it’s cold and thinner when it heats up. The first number indicates the viscosity of the oil at a cold temperature, and the second number indicates the viscosity at operating temperatures.
Lubricants like SAE 5W-30 require base stocks with lower volatility that enable the lubricants to meet engine test requirements at these lower viscosities. Prior to the introduction of Group II+ base stocks, manufacturers had to rely on Group III base stocks to blend an SAE 5W-30 engine oil. Because Group II+ has similar properties to a Group III, Group II+ can reduce or eliminate the need for a Group III in certain applications.
In the base stocks industry, there is a lot of complexity to the Group I, II and III categorisations. Standard setting organisations such as API are very strict
1 Synthetic Lubricants Market by Base Oil, Product and End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026
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LUBE MAGAZINE NO.161 FEBRUARY 2021
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