ADDITIVES
Response to challenges of increased tall oil demand
A study of sustainable, bio-derived metalworking additives
Shoshana Sakolsky, Technical Product Development, Ingevity
Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are an integral part of any machining operation for their ability to reduce heat and friction and improve lubricity. Various fatty acids have long been used in MWF formulations because they provide multi-functional advantages and exhibit good lubricity. Good lubricity is critical in reducing friction wear between the tool and workpiece, leading to extended tool life, enhanced machining performance, and improved surface finish. They also provide essential protection from corrosion and oxidation by forming protective films on metal surfaces. Finally, they can act as co- emulsifiers allowing for increased stability in oil-in-water emulsions.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in environmental responsibility and sustainability, leading to an increased demand for bio-based metalworking fluid formulations. Pine-derived crude tall oil has been a popular source of fatty acid in this space, as it is a sustainable and bio-based raw material. Recently, tall oil has gained attention in the renewable fuel conversation. The European Commission Renewable Energy Directive (RED) set targets and regulations establishing goals for increasing available renewable energy and reducing emissions. RED included tall oil as a viable option for the development of biofuels. This increased attention has led to concerns about the availability and pricing of tall oil. However, this challenge presents an opportunity to develop new alternatives for metalworking fluid applications.
To address the concerns at hand, it is important to consider alternative feedstocks that complement
current chemistries. By diversifying offerings with fatty acids from various renewable sources, we can reduce dependence on a single raw material stream and increase market flexibility. Vegetable oils, such as soybean, canola, palm, and rapeseed oil are obvious choices for developing alternative biobased solutions because they are rich in fatty acids such as oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids, all of which have desirable performance properties in metalworking fluid applications. Another important advantage to offering diverse fatty acid sources is that it allows formulators to customise their offerings based on specific requirements for metal or alloy use or application. This creates an opportunity to design custom solutions for a variety of machining challenges in an ever-evolving market. So, what would taking advantage of this opportunity look like?
Fatty acids are differentiated by hydrocarbon chain length, degree of saturation, and functional groups which all influence physical and chemical properties. Product specifications for these physiochemical properties are often the starting point for formulators interested in selecting a new raw material to include in each formulation. Therefore, similar characteristics should be fully considered and demonstrated when introducing any new feedstock to a product line. Figure 1 demonstrates an example of similar properties of two distilled tall oil products (DTO A and DTO B) and a high rosin mixed acid.
Figure 2 demonstrates the similarities between tall oil fatty acids (TOFA A and TOFA B) and a low rosin fatty acid.
Continued on page 38 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.176 AUGUST 2023 37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
