New Organic Friction Modifiers for Industrial Gear Oils
Organic friction modifiers have traditionally struggled to find
applications in the industrial gear oil market due to their tendency to promote
emulsification of contaminant water. A reduction in friction is however
desirable as it can lead to reduced oil sump temperatures, which helps to
maintain higher lubricant viscosity. This, in turn, gives rise to a thicker
load-bearing oil film and therefore less wear. In addition, thermal stresses on
the oil are reduced, increasing the overall lifetime of the fluid and extending
drain intervals. A new thermally and oxidatively stable friction modifier has
been developed by Croda, which has much improved performance in minimizing impact
of water entrainment in industrial gear oil formulations while providing very
significant reductions in friction.