by their Viscosity Index with 120 VI as the point of differentiation between the two groups. A summary of base oil categories and their characteristics is provided in Table 1.
Figure 3: Global Lubricant Demand by Application - 2019 (Pre-COVID)
Base oils represent the primary component in a finished lubricant. To many, the base oil represents the foundation or building block from which chemical additives are incorporated to elevate the performance of the base oil to that required for its finished application. The type and number of additives will vary by application and the environment by which it operates. Engine oils operate under elevated temperatures and pressures and require an advanced additive system to address such performance features such as oxidation stability, fuel economy, sludge and varnish control, and viscosity breakdown over extended periods of use. Industrial oils, by comparison, rely more on the base oil itself to provide the required performance and utilise a much less complex additive system.
Base oil demand is estimated at 94% of total lubricant demand. The remainder is chemical additives, whose concentration has been adjusted by removing the process oil, or base oil, which is used for solubilising purposes. The base oils themselves can be divided into five classifications as described by API (American Petroleum Institute) and ATIEL (Technical Association of the European Lubricants Industry), including Group I (solvent refined), Group II (hydroprocessed), Group III (severely hydroprocessed), Group IV (poly-alpha- olefins) and Group V (naphthenic, esters, alkylated naphthene’s, etc.).
The primary base oil categories Group I, II and III are distinguished by their chemical properties as described by sulphur content and the level of saturated versus aromatic materials. Group II and Group III have similar compositional features and are distinguished
Table 1: Base Oil Classifications – API and ATIEL
Over the years, the demand for higher performance base oils has increased, particularly in the automotive area where engine oils are required to address the increasing demands for improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and engine protection over longer drain periods. The result has been an increasing demand for higher performance Group II and Group III base oils with Group III aligning closely with passenger car engine oil demand, and Group II with heavy duty engine oil demand.
Industrial oils, by comparison, still retain a strong dependence on solvent refined Group I due to the need for viscosity as its primary requirement. Many industrial applications involve slow moving equipment where temperature extremes are not as prevalent as with automotive applications. Hence there is not the same need for multigrading, or the ability to operate under both high and low temperature conditions, as observed with automotive oils. Global base oil demand is summarised for the 2015 to 2022 period in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Global Base Oil Demand by Group - 2015 to 2022 Continued on page 24 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.179 FEBRUARY 2024 23
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