A lubricant, being organic in nature, is a substance used to reduce friction among sliding parts and running machines, heat generation and dispense deposits and cleaning up the engine. Oil lubricant is a specific class of lubricants that are based on base oil, which is extracted through industrial processes from crude oil.
These oil-based lubricants are utilized in various industries and almost every kind of engine to sustain them at long and keep their running smooth. Engine oil lubricants are of three types: Mineral, Synthetic, and Semi-Synthetic Oils. These types differ with respect to their formation, base oils, properties, and utilization in various sectors.
At first, the Mineral engine oils are made from Crude petroleum oil that is extracted from Earth’s crust and transported to a refinery, where it undergoes several refining processes to remove impurities and separate different products at different temperatures. After this fractional distillation process of refining the crude oil and separating its components, some additives are added to improve the performance of lubricant oils to sustain the engine at long, remove deposits, and clean up the engine and dispense or absorb the wastages.
Synthetic oils
The next type, Synthetic oils are formulated through chemical processes in the laboratory. These are man-made lubricant oils and could also be formulated using refined petroleum. Refining these synthetic oils is way more complex than refining the mineral oils, as it involves modifying the structure and composition of hydrocarbon at the base.
These modifications are made to reach out with the best molecule availability and meeting different industrial and automotive needs. This way, only the best possible molecule is retained and residuals are transferred to other sectors where they have implication and utilization. Further processing involves adding additives, which improves performance and makes it purer and efficient than a traditional Mineral oil.
The last type, Semi-Synthetic lubricant oil is a blend of Mineral and Synthetic oil. These two oil types are mixed with different proportions and according to the needs. This is quite interesting to know that these semi-synthetic oils contain no more than 30% of synthetic oils in their formation. Furthermore, some additives are mixed with proportions to increase its durability and improve performance.
Oxidation Inhibitor Additive
Some famous additives include Oxidation Inhibitor Additive which lowers the pace of oxidation and increases the lifespan of engine oil, Detergent Additive to remove the dust and dirt particles and clean up the engine parts, Dispersant Additive to remove deposits and impurities formulated while engine is running, and Antifoam Additives to prevent foam generation at the surfaces of engine parts due to detergent additives, Anti-wear Additives to avoid wear and tear, Corrosion Inhibitor Additives to protect parts against the rust effects and rust formulation, Viscosity Index Modifiers to reduce the difference in viscosity between the cold oil and hot oils, and Antifreeze Additives to avoid freezing of engine oils and make it adaptable to environmental conditions and temperature variability. These all are the additives utilized in making and formulation of lubricant oil for various industrial and automotive sectors.
