| Abstract: | The authors have studied the possibility of using Crambe abyssinica oil as a starting material for synthetic lubricants, and in this paper the procedures for the preparation of monoesters from methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, as well as diesters from neopentylglycol, triesters from trimethylolpropane and tetraesters from pentaerythritol, are described. The different reactions were set up using free fatty acids, methyl esters, and Crambe oil as starting materials. All reactions were carried out in a solvent-free medium, using normally available catalysts and under experimental conditions which could easily be scaled up to industrial level. All the products obtained, along with the refined Crambe abyssinica oil used as a reference, were analysed for viscosity, viscosity index, low-temperature behaviour and oxidative and hydrolytic stability. Results of tests, such as four-ball machine and Noack, are reported. The results show that several products covering a wide range of different applications can be obtained from the basic Crambe abyssinica oil, and, furthermore, the chemical modification of the Crambe abyssinica oil can, in some cases, improve thermal and hydrolytic sensitivity and even the tribological properties. |
