Lubricant Additives

xiii

Preface

Lubricant additives continue to be developed to provide improved properties and performance to

modern lubricants.

Environmental issues and applications that require lubricants to operate under severe conditions

will cause an increase in the use of synthetics. Owing to performance and maintenance reasons,

many applications that have historically relied on petroleum-derived lubricants are shifting to

synthetic lubricant-based products. Cost issues, on the contrary, tend to shift the market toward

group II and III base oils where hydrocarbons can be used. Shifts to renewable and biodegradable

fl uids are also needed, and this will require a greater need for new effective additives to meet the

challenges of formulating for various applications.

There are several indications that the lubricant additive industry will grow and change.

Legislation is driving changes to fuel composition and lubricant components, and therefore, future

lubricant developments will be constrained compared to what has been done in the past. Registration,

Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACh) in the European Union (EU) is

placing constraints on the incentive to develop new molecules that will serve as additives. The cost

of introduction of new proprietary materials will be the burden of the company that develops the new

material. For many common additives that are produced by several manufacturers, they will share

costs to generate any needed data on the toxicology or biodegradability of the materials.

Continued progress toward new engine oil requirements will require oils to provide improved

fuel economy and to have additive chemistry that does not degrade emission system components.

This will require a new test to evaluate the volatility of phosphorus in engine oils and to improve

the oil properties in terms of protecting the engine. Future developments and requirements will

undoubtedly require new, more severe testing protocols.

The market for lubricant additives is expected to grow. China and India, for example, represent

highly populated markets that are expected to see growth in infrastructure, and therefore a growth

in industrial equipment and number of vehicles. Many U.S. and EU companies continue to develop

a presence in Pacifi c and Southeast Asia through either new manufacturing in that region or sales

and distribution offi ces.

More advanced technologies will require application of new types of lubricants, containing

new additive chemistries required for exploration of space and oceans. Since these remote locations

and extremes of environment require low maintenance, they will place new demands on lubricant

properties and performance.

This book would not have developed the way it has without the invaluable help and encour-

agement of many of my colleagues. I want to thank all of the authors of the chapters contained

herein for responding to the deadlines. There is always a balance between job responsibilities and

publishing projects like this one. My heartfelt thanks to each of you. It is your contributions that

have created this resource for our industry.

I especially want to thank Barbara Glunn, at Taylor & Francis Group, with whom I have worked

earlier on Synthetics, Mineral Oils and Bio-Based Lubricants, for her support to this project from

its early stages through its completion. I also want to thank Kari Budyk, project coordinator,

who has been invaluable in every way in the progress of this project and has been a tremendous

asset to me as an editor and helpful to the many contributors of this book. I also want to thank

Jennifer Derima, Jennifer Smith, and the team at Macmillan Publishing Solutions for their efforts,

patience, and understanding during the time I have been working on this book.

I also thank Paula, Eric, and Rachel for all of their support during this project.

Les Rudnick

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