Synthetic lubricants and their industrial applications

Production of many synthetic lubricants starts with base stocks which are syntbesised from high volume hydrocarbon intermediates. For example, polyalphaolefin base fluids are synthesised from ethylene. Some, however, start with very basic raw materials. for example, silicone base fluids are made from sand (SiO2), require considerable energy, and there are many steps in their manufacture including handling of very corrosive materials. These variable manufacturing requirements account for the broad price range for synthetics and the much higher price for the ‘exotics’ such as fluorosilicones. Unlike mineral oil base stocks, which are a complex mixture of naturally-occurring hydrocarbons refined from crude oil, synthetic base stocks are man-made, having controlled molecular structure with predictable properties. As with all present-day fluid lubricants, synthetics are formulated by combining the base stocks with selected additives.