Continued from page 30
application is important. For example, a blend can be made from two oils with widely different viscosities (a “dumbbell” blend) to attain the desired final viscosity but this could adversely affect the volatility and distillation characteristics.
One very good example of using this process is for OEM specifications is for shock absorber fluids (SAFs). There are a considerable number of shock absorber manufactures and they all have different requirements for their SAFs. Some years ago, I counted 25 different specifications. The required parameters were extremely varied in terms of viscometrics, especially at very low temperatures, viscosity indices (VIs), volatility, flash points and shear stability.
Many of these fluids require viscosity modifiers to achieve these specified parameters, so quite often the base oil blend needs to be tailored to these special needs. From our work, we defined many base oil blends for SAFs, including ones that had very low viscosities, even when measured at -30 °C, and when blended with the appropriate Viscosity Modifier, gave very high VIs of over 170 and had excellent Noack Volatility.
The same tests can also be carried out for fluids for a wide variety of non-lubricant applications. These include uses from personal care and textile lubricants to polymer process oils, all of which can require a variety of oils with varying performances.
When oil blends are made it is important that whilst meeting specification targets, the ingredients used do not compromise any other accreditations for the oil, such as those necessary for a Vegan certification of food grade oils.
Also, when base oils are sold into specialty markets, such as crop protection oils or reference fuels, then additional characteristics for blends have to be met, such as very specific distillations.
After these theoretical blends are defined, checks need to be made to establish the exact parameters that have been targeted and possible refinements made. A range of blends may then meet the required performance, which then need to be tested in a finished oil by the customer.
Another aspect of blending is its use for producing environmentally acceptable oils (EALs). Sustainability
32 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.167 FEBRUARY 2022
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editor@ukla.org.uk or call: + 44 1442 875922
has now become a key factor in every industry and there is a drive to introduce an increasing number of products into the market that support this. Depending on the application, there is interest in establishing levels of both biodegradability and renewability.
For example, where readily biodegradable performance is required, with >60% biodegradability in the applicable OECD test, a lower performing product, with say 45-50%, can be co-blended with the appropriate product to lift it up to the required biodegradability level.
So if the right straight oil cannot be found, then there are a wide variety of options available to blend oils that not only meet the required performance characteristics but also make things easier for the customer.
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