Performance testing of lubricants based on high oleic vegetable oils

Owing to growing environmental concerns, vegetable oils are finding their way into lubricants for industrial and transportation applications. Vegetable oils can of Ser significant environmental advantages with respect to resource renewability and biodegradability, as well as offering satisfactory performance in a variety of applications. Synthetic ester-based fluids may also offer these advantages, however their cost can be prohibitively high. Formulating with vegetable oil does, however, present unique challenges. These are, most notably, the oxidative and hydrolytic instability and low temperature problems associated with the triglyceride. However, through advanced plant breeding techniques, vegetable oils are becoming available which exhibit excellent thermal and oxidative stability and other improved performance properties. The cost of these oils is much lower than synthetic esters, thereby making them attractive ‘environmental’ base fluids.