In Africa, though, the remaining need for Group I for engine oils will
remain high, due to several reasons: many older generation road vehicles
in the fleets, challenging logistics and the need for low-cost and robust
solutions, and customer habits
polarity, aromaticity and sufficiently high
solvency; and in the higher viscosity range
“heavy solvent neutrals” to supply high enough
viscosity, and solvency needed in lubricant
formulations, and as process oils.
At this point, it serves well to remind
ourselves of that the parameters specified in the
API Groups relate to the chemical composition,
and properties, for the different base oils
utilized to manufacture engine oils. The main
objective of the API Base Oil Classification
system is to serve as a handy reference for base
oil interchange (BOI) and engine testing readacross guidelines.
Crude oils and base oils are categorized
as either naphthenic or paraffinic; however,
there is no sharp distinction, rather a sliding
scale from the “very Naphthenic” to the “very
Paraffinic”. Oils with a paraffinic carbon content
(CP) of 42-50% (e.g. as measured by FT-IR) are
considered to be Naphthenic base oils; the rest
of the carbon content being naphthenic (CN)
35-50%, and aromatic CA 5-15 %.
Naturally occurring Paraffinic crudes have
Septmber 2015 • | Lubezine Magazine
a paraffinic content up to 67% (CP), but more
importantly, both API Group II and III have
(CP) content well beyond that, with saturates
(CP) +(CN) (i.e. non-Aromatic) content often
above 99%. The naphthenic content in Group
II base oils is in the range of (CN) 30-40%,
with a negligible amount of aromatic CA.
Thus, the solvency gap is readily explained
and understood from the principal analysis
chemical composition differences.
The solution to the Group I deficiency in most
cases, i.e. where retention of both viscosity and
solvency properties are required, is thus not to
be found by switching to Group II or Group III
base oils, as the chemical and physical property
differences simply are too great.
To help mitigate this, Nynas has created a
new specialty base oil product line; with key
properties very similar to Group I base oils
(from SN 70 to SN 600). The key design criteria
was to closely match the Kinematic Viscosity
(@ 40 °C) and Aniline Point of a representative
reference base oil range of Solvent Neutral
(SN) Group I paraffinic base oils. Carefully
preserving these key properties
a l lows indust r ia l lubr icant
manufacturers to maintain key
properties of their products, and
to allow for as easy reformulation
work as possible.Nynas suppliesthe
Nybase range that is able to replace
conventional Group I use, in many
cases without needing significant
reformulation efforts. The Nynas
range is available as base oil for
lubricants and greases, and as process oil for
the chemical and rubber industry.
Applications include:
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Metalworking Fluids (Neat oils and
emulsions)
Lubricating Greases
Industrial lubricants
Automotive Engine and Transmission
oils
Additives for Lubricant industry
Carrier oil for Anti-foam additives
Leather industry
Coldset offset printing inks
Anti-caking solutions for NPK type
fertilizers
Spray oils for Agriculture protections
Explosives : ANFO, Heavy ANFO,
Emulsions and Watergel
Plasticizers for rubber and tire industry
Mould release agent
Drilling muds, mineral oil based. ■
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