SECTOR FOCUS: BLENDING
Blending oils to meet market requirements
Mike Peters, Technical Support & Development Manager, SIP Specialty Oils and Fluids
When trying to meet the requirements of a fluid for the market, it is often the case that the parameters that are needed cannot be met using a straight oil. It could be that the appropriate oils are available with the required viscosity, but none have the volatility needed, or oils with excellent low temperature fluidity can be defined but not with the required flash point. When this happens, blending oils of different types can produce a fluid that can meet all the desired characteristics.
There is a British phrase from the end of the 19th Century for this: “Horses for Courses”, which for our industry means utilising the best suited fluid for the appropriate application. However, it is often the case that the requirements for any particular lubricant cannot be met by a “straight” base oil and therefore a blend of oils, which targets the specific requirements of the application, is needed.
Establishing performance targeted blends must be a critical part of blender customer service. This not only enables customers to simplify their own blending process but can reduce storage of specialty fluids and make purchasing easier.
The reason for defining a blend, rather than using a 30 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.167 FEBRUARY 2022
straight oil, for a particular application is often due to conflicting performance requirements. This could be the need for a high viscosity oil but with good low temperature performance or a low viscosity oil but with low evaporation loss. Sometimes it may just be as simple as a need for some specific distillation characteristics or to improve oxidation stability.
The start of the process to define the required base oil blend may either be a request for a base fluid with certain characteristics or the specification for a finished oil. This latter may be a customer requirement or a classification from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or industry body.
Whatever the request, the first issue that must be addressed is what conflicting parameters there may be when the blend is made. This starting process is like a chef inventing a new cake recipe, looking at what ingredients are available and what will happen when they are put together. Fortunately for a base oil blender, theoretical outcomes can be calculated before the final blends are made and tested.
One important aspect for this, is understanding that blends can be created with a particular viscosity from a wide range of base oils, but understanding the end Continued on page 32
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