ADDITIVES IN
LUBRICATING OILS
ADDITIVES
• There are many types of chemical additives mixed into base oils to enhance
the properties of the base oil, to suppress some undesirable properties of
the base oil and possibly to impart some new properties.
• Additives typically make up about 0.1 to 30 percent of the finished
lubricating oil, depending upon the target application of the lubricant.
• Many lubricant additives are available, and they are selected for use based
upon their ability to perform their intended function. They are also chosen
for their ability to mix easily with the selected base oils, to be compatible
with other additives in the formulation and to be cost effective.
ADDITIVES
• Some additives perform their function within the body of the oil (e.g.,
anti-oxidants), while others do their work on the surface of the metal
(e.g., anti-wear additives and rust inhibitors).
ANTI-OXIDANTS
Components of the base oil by oxygen in the air. It occurs at all temperatures
all of the time but is accelerated at higher temperatures and by the presence
of water, wear metals and other contaminants.
It ultimately causes acids (which produce corrosion) and sludge (which results
in surface deposits and viscosity to increase) to form. Oxidation inhibitors, as
they are also called, are used to extend the operating life of the oil.
• They are sacrificial additives that are consumed while performing their duty
of delaying the onset of oxidation, thus protecting the base oil. They are
present in almost every lubricating oil and grease.
RUST AND CORROSION INHIBITORS
RUST AND CORROSION INHIBITORS
These additives reduce or eliminate internal rust and corrosion by
neutralizing acids and forming a chemical protective barrier to repel
moisture from metal surfaces.
• Some of these inhibitors are specific to protecting certain metals.
Therefore, an oil may contain several corrosion inhibitors. Again, they
are common in almost every oil and grease. Metal deactivators are
another form of corrosion inhibitor.
VISCOSITY INDEX IMPROVERS
Viscosity index improvers are very large polymer additives that partially
prevent the oil from thinning out (losing viscosity) as the temperature
increases. These additives are used extensively when blending multi-
grade engine oils such as SAE 5W-30 or SAE 15W-40.
• They are also responsible for better oil flow at low temperatures,
resulting in reduction in wear and improved fuel economy. In addition,
VI improvers are used to achieve high-VI hydraulic and gear oils for
improved start-up and lubrication at low temperatures.
Think of the VI improver as an octopus or coil spring that stays coiled up in a
ball at low temperatures and has very little effect on the oil viscosity.
• Then, as the temperature rises, the additive (or octopus) expands or
extends its arms (making it larger) and prevents the oil from thinning out
too much at high temperatures.
THINK OF THE VI IMPROVER AS AN OCTOPUS OR COIL SPRING THAT STAYS COILED UP IN A BALL AT LOW
TEMPERATURES AND HAS VERY LITTLE EFFECT ON THE OIL VISCOSITY.
THEN, AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES, THE ADDITIVE (OR OCTOPUS) EXPANDS OR EXTENDS ITS ARMS
(MAKING IT LARGER) AND PREVENTS THE OIL FROM THINNING OUT TOO MUCH AT HIGH TEMPERATURES.
ANTI-WEAR (AW) AGENTS
These additives are typically used to protect machine parts from wear and loss of metal
during boundary lubrication conditions. They are polar additives that attach to frictional
metal surfaces.
They react chemically with the metal surfaces when metal-to-metal contact occurs in
conditions of mixed and boundary lubrication.
They are activated by the heat of contact to form a film that minimizes wear. They also
help protect the base oil from oxidation and the metal from damage by corrosive acids.
• These additives become “used up” by performing their function, after which adhesive
wear damage will increase. They are typically phosphorus compounds, with the most
common being zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP).
EXTREME PRESSURE (EP) ADDITIVES
These additives are more chemically aggressive than AW additives. They
react chemically with metal (iron) surfaces to form a sacrificial surface
film that prevents the welding and seizure of opposing asperities caused
by metal-to-metal contact (adhesive wear).
• They are activated at high loads and by the high contact temperatures
that are created. They are typically used in gear oils and give those
oils that unique, strong sulphur smell. These additives usually contain
sulphur and phosphorus compounds (and occasionally boron
compounds).
ANTI-FOAMING AGENTS
The chemicals in this additive group possess low interfacial tension,
which weakens the oil bubble wall and allows the foam bubbles to burst
more readily. They have an indirect effect on oxidation by reducing the
amount of air-oil contact.
• Some of these additives are oil-insoluble silicone materials that are not
dissolved but rather dispersed finely in the lubricating oil. Very low
concentrations are usually required. If too much anti-foaming additive
is added, it can have a reverse effect and promote further foaming and
air entrainment.
POUR POINT DEPRESSANTS
The pour point of an oil is approximately the lowest temperature at which
an oil will remain fluid. Wax crystals that form in paraffinic mineral oils
crystallize (become solid) at low temperatures. The solid crystals form a
lattice network that inhibits the remaining liquid oil from flowing.
• The additives in this group reduce the size of the wax crystals in the oil
and their interaction with each other, allowing the oil to continue to
flow at low temperatures.
DEMULSIFIERS
• Demulsifier additives prevent the formation of a stable oil-water
mixture or an emulsion by changing the interfacial tension of the oil so
that water will coalesce and separate more readily from the oil. This is
an important characteristic for lubricants exposed to steam or water so
that free water can settle out and be easily drained off at a reservoir.
EMULSIFIERS
• Emulsifiers are used in oil-water-based metal-working fluids and fire-
resistant fluids to help create a stable oil-water emulsion. The
emulsifier additive can be thought of as a glue binding the oil and
water together, because normally they would like to separate from
each other due to interfacial tension and differences in specific gravity.
BIOCIDES
• Biocides are often added to water-based lubricants to control the
growth of bacteria.
HOW OIL ADDITIVES GET DEPLETED
Very important to understand that most of these additives get consumed
and depleted by:
“decomposition” or breakdown,
“adsorption” onto metal, particle and water surfaces, and
• “separation” due to settling or filtration.
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