Investigation of Tribological Behaviour of Vegetable Oil as an Alternative Lubricant For Maintenance Applications

Abstract

The lubricant manufacturers invest between 1 and 5% of their sales in research and development
 depending on their field of activity. Extended oil change intervals show that more focus is on advanced
 quality lubricants (lifetime lubrication), which help to reduce lube consumption. About 1% of the total
 mineral oil consumption is used to formulate lubricants. Everywhere the production, application, and disposal
 of lubricants have to cover the best possible protection of our nature and the environment in general and of
 the living beings in special. The desire for environment adapted lubricants has begun to play an increasingly
 important role in many industrial applications particularly in the last two decades in view of contamination
 of soil and water and possible extinction of natural oil resources, which is caused by lost lubrication, leakage
 and accidents.
 Vegetable oils are potential candidate for lubrication of the future owing to their better biodegradability than
 petroleum based oils. However, the technical deficiencies associated with vegetable oils in terms of thermal,
 oxidative and viscosity-temperature properties have to be overcome before they are considered for specialty
 high performing lubricants. The present study deals with the current status of lubricants in relation to
 international developments and to identify future needs particularly of vegetable oils, considering various
 aspects as availability, processing, tribological and chemical behavior, testing, applications and economics.
 The feasibility of suitable non edible (castor) oil is also discussed.