Biodegradable lubricant with tailored hydrolytic stability and improved thermal stability through alkoxylation of glycerol
AssigneeTetramer Technologies, LLC
InventorsZachary J. Hunt, Benjamin F. Bergmann, Monika Mujkic, Jeffrey R. DiMaio
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Abstract
Described herein are methods of stabilizing the beta hydrogen of glycerol based esters by the insertion of alkoxy groups to significantly improve the thermal, oxidative, and hydrolytic stability of the ester and allow for controlling the molar density of esters bonds in the lubricants to maximize hydrolytic stability while maintaining biodegradability and further improving performance properties.
Claims22
A synthetic ester lubricating base oil comprising:
- an ester of an alkoxylated glycerol with an average degree of alkoxylation ≥3;
- at least one fatty acid having ≥8 carbon atoms;
- wherein the synthetic lubricating base oil exhibits, as compared to a glycerol ester with same fatty acid composition:
- increased oxidative, thermal or hydrolytic stability;
- decreased melting enthalpy;
- and
- decreased undercooling.
A method for using alkoxylation to stabilize a beta-hydrogen of a glycerol ester and dilute molar density of ester bonds in an ester base oil wherein hydroxyl groups of the glycerol are alkoxylated with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or a combination thereof, to form an alkoxylated glycerol ester with thermal, oxidative, and hydrolytic stability.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.