| Abstract: | This paper presents the results of a study carried out in order to produce synthetic ester oils of a mixed structure based on sebacic acid with beneficial tribological properties. These series of unsymmetrical diesters were synthesized using superior aliphatic alcohols such as 2‐ethyl‐hexanol, isodecanol and isotridecanol, along with special alcohols of a complex alkyl‐aryl structure, namely 2‐phenoxy‐ethanol, 2‐(o‐sec butyl) phenoxy] ethanol and 2‐(p‐nonyl) phenoxy] ethanol. Also synthesized were symmetric esters based on the complex aliphatic‐aromatic alcohols with pendant aliphatic chain. The variation in the principal properties as a function of both the length of the aliphatic chain introduced by the aliphatic alcohol, and the length and position of the aliphatic pendant chain on the aromatic nucleus of the complex alkyl‐aryl alcohol was assessed. Based on this, it has been possible to obtain fluid products with variable properties. The introduction of the aromatic function in the structure of these diesters led to interesting features, and the superior values recorded for the main tribological characteristics demonstrated their versatility. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
