OilDoc 2013 - Paul Bonner

Friction Modifiers and
Lubricity Additives for

Industrial Lubricants
Paul Bonner, Croda, Cowick, England
John Eastwood, Croda, Cowick, England
Louise O’Sullivan, Croda, Cowick, England
www.crodalubricants.com
Contents
• Introduction
• Neat Metalworking Fluids
• Hydraulic Fluids
• Industrial Gear Oils
• Summary
Friction Modifiers and Lubricity Additives
• A lubricity additive (LA) is a generic description for an additive added to a lubricant
formulation to perform one or more specific tasks, such as, reduced wear, prevent
metal-metal welding, to lower torque or to control friction
• A friction modifier is used to control friction, which may mean reducing the
coefficient of friction to very low levels or it may mean controlling friction between
specific values
• Ordinarily a formulator needs to chose one or more additives that are designed to
perform one or more of these tasks
• e.g. FMs to reduce friction, extreme pressure (EP) additives to prevent
welding, ZDDP for anti-wear protection
• The new FMs presented today have the capability to provide extremely low
coefficient of friction whilst significantly reducing wear
New Friction Modifiers
• Organic (C, H, O)
• Metal Free
• Free from Phosphorus, Sulphur and Chlorine
• Examples of polymeric and non-polymeric
• Tailored to specific applications
Conventional and Polymeric Friction
Modifiers
Models of a conventional FM GMO vs polymeric HPLA
Green = non polar - oil soluble, Yellow = polar – attractive to metal

surfaces
NEAT METAL WORKING FLUIDS
Aim
• Reduce the torque required for form tapping to provide

greater energy efficiency
• Reduce wear to increase tool life
• Multi-metal applications
Neat Metalworking Fluids
• Group I mineral oils used as the base fluid
• Polymeric High Performance Lubricity Additive (HPLA)

added at 8% and 16% for demonstration purposes
• HPLA can be used at lower treat-rates but will be

dependent upon the application (base oil, formulation,
metals to be machined, metalworking operation e.g.
drilling, broaching, deformation, etc)
Lubrication Tests
• Micro-Tapping (form tapping) Torque Test
• Reichert Wear Test
• 4-Ball Wear Test
• Mini-Traction Machine (coefficient of friction)
Form Tapping
• Form tapping measured using a Microtap instrument

- Aluminium Al 6061
- Hard Steel 1018
• Tests Conducted:
• 8% and 16% polymeric HPLA added to base oil and compared to:
- Gp I base oil alone
- Gp I base oil + 10% conventional ester (TMP Trioleate)
- Gp I base oil + 7.5% HPLA + 0.5% phosphate ester
• 10% polymeric HPLA in base oil compared to:

- Gp I base oil + 10% high viscosity ester (commercial products)
Micro-tapping Machine
6mm form tapping
• HSS tap
• torque limit 700 Ncm
• speed = 600 – 800 rpm
• tap depth = 0.5 inch / 13 mm
• Records torque required to tap pre-formed holes

• The results are reported as the maximum torque required
Form Tapping (6mm) – Aluminium 6061
5 – 7 % torque reduction with HPLA vs. conventional ester
-5 %
-7 %
Form Tapping (6mm) – Hard Steel
(1018)
16 – 23 % torque reduction with HPLA vs. conventional ester
fail
-16 % - 23 %
Form Tapping (6mm) – Aluminium 6061
HPLA vs. commercial high viscosity esters:
comparable performance
160
140
120
100 -13 %
Torque Ncm
80
60
40
20
0
Base Oil (ISO 32 - 68) Base Oil + 10% Ester (ISO Base Oil + 10% HPLA Base Oil + 10% Comp A Base Oil + 10% Comp B
46)
Form Tapping (6mm) – Hard Steel (1018)
HPLA vs. commercial high viscosity esters:
10% improvement over A, B fails
fail fail
-10 %
Paul Bonner – OilDoc Conference & Exhibition 2013
4 Ball Wear Scar
Low wear and synergy between HPLA and phosphate ester
Paul Bonner – OilDoc Conference & Exhibition 2013
Reichert Wear
Low wear and synergy between HPLA and phosphate ester:
60% reduction over 10% conventional ester
-42%
-60%
Mini-Traction Machine (MTM)
• 36N Load, ¾ “ ball on 46 mm disk, 3 runs

• Slide roll ratio fixed at 50%
• Speed range of 0 – 2 m/s
• Temperatures of 100 ̊C and 150 ̊C
MTM Coefficient of Friction at 100 ̊C
Excellent friction reducing properties !
MTM Coefficient of Friction at 150 ̊C
Outstanding friction reducing properties !!
• Typical temperature in contact zone

Summary for Neat MWFs
• HPLA outperforms conventional esters in the form tapping of Al 6061
(5 – 7% less torque)
• HPLA outperforms conventional esters in the form tapping of mild steel and 1018
hard steel (up to 23% less torque)
• HPLA outperforms high viscosity esters in form tapping of hard steel by 10% over
commercial sample A, with commercial sample B failing the test
• Provides excellent wear protection and can act synergistically with phosphate
ester
• Forms stable films, especially at higher temperatures and can provide a very
dramatic reduction in frictional characteristics of mineral oil based neat oils
• HPLAs are also extremely effective in ester base fluids

HYDRAULIC FLUIDS
Aim
• Reduce friction of the fully formulated oil to:

• lower the operating temperature of the oil and reduce wear
that can result from a reduction in viscosity of the hydraulic
fluid at operating temperature
• Provide greater wear protection to low viscosity oils

• Increase energy efficiency through the use of lower viscosity
hydraulic fluids
Hydraulic Fluids
• Group II mineral oil used as base fluid
• Two commercial additive packages evaluated
• Gp II base oil + additive packs top treated with 1% polymeric

HPLA
• Coefficient of friction tested using MTM machine
• Demulsification tested in 1:1 water over 30 minutes using ASTM

D1401-02
Commercial Additive Pack 1 + HPLA
MTM results 100 ̊C
0.12
0.1
Coefficient of Friction
0.08
Commercial Addpack 1 + 1 %
HPLA
0.06 Commercial Addpack 1
0.04
0.02
0
0.01 0.1 1 10
speed m/s
Commercial Additive Pack 2 + HPLA MTM
results 100 ̊C
0.12
0.1
0.08 Commercial addpack 2 + 1 % HPLA
Commercial addpack 2
COEF
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0.01 0.1 1 10
Speed m/s
Demulsification test
• Hydraulic fluids are required to pass a demulsification test ASTM

D1401-02 to meet specifications. This is due to the likelihood of
some water being entrained during use
• If a hydraulic fluid becomes emulsified then cavitation is likely

which causes a decrease in efficiency and high wear
• A 1:1 (40 ml) water : oil was mixed by paddle stirrer at 1500 rpm
for 5 minutes and then observed
No HPLA
1% HPLA
Summary for Hydraulic Fluids
• HPLA provides extremely low coefficient of friction to
the hydraulic fluids formulated using Gp II base oil and
two commercial additive packs
• However, HPLA causes the hydraulic fluid to emulsify

water
• A re-design of the friction modifier is required to

maintain the outstanding low friction profile whilst
improving demulsification
INDUSTRIAL GEAR OILS (IGO)
Aim
• Reduce the coefficient of friction of the gear oil
• Increase the efficiency of the power transfer
• Reduce wear
Industrial Gear Oils
• Base fluid used was PAO/ester blend (ISO 320)
• A commercial additive package was used as a reference add

pack
• The base oil plus add package was top treated with a polymeric
HPLA (at 1%) and two different non polymeric HPLAs (at 2%)
• Coefficient of friction determined using the Mini-traction machine
• Demulsification tested in 1:1 water over 30 minutes using ASTM

D1401-02
Coefficient of Friction by MTM
• Due to the higher viscosity of the IGO formulation the MTM had to
be run at higher loads and temperatures than used for the
metalworking fluids and hydraulic fluids in order to obtain a
Stribeck curve covering both mixed and boundary lubrication
regimes
Parameter Standard Values Modified IGO Values

Load 36 N 75 N
Ball / disk size ¾ “ on 46 mm disk ½ “ on 32 mm disk
Temperature 100C 150C
IGO – MTM Results Polymeric HPLA
• Polymeric HPLA shows no improvement over the commercial

addpack
IGO – MTM Results Non-Polymeric HPLA
0.12
0.11
PAO/Ester ISO 320
0.1
0.09 Commercial Addpack in PAO/Ester
0.08 Commercial Addpack with 2 %

nonpolymeric HPLA 1 in PAO/Ester
0.07
COEF
Commercial Addpack with 2 %

0.06 nonpolymeric HPLA 2 in PAO/Ester
Commercial Addpack with 1%
0.05 polymeric HPLA in PAO/Ester
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01 0.1 1 10
Speed m/s
• Two non-polymeric HPLAs were tested and gave a good

reduction in friction compared to the commercial addpack alone
Demulsification of Non-Polymeric HPLA 1
and HPLA 2
• HPLA 2 does not cause the industrial gear oil formulation to

emulsify water
Summary of IGO
• Polymeric HPLA showed no improvement in frictional performance compared to
the commercial additive pack
• Both non-polymeric HPLA 1 and HPLA 2 showed a significant reduction in

coefficient of friction over the commercial additive pack
• Non-polymeric HPLA 1 failed the demulsification test whilst HPLA 2 passed
• The structure of the friction modifier is critical to get both reduced friction and
excellent demulsification properties in a PAO/ester based formulation
• The performance of the friction modifier is likely to be dependent upon the base oil
and the additives in a given formulation and further work to understanding their
mutual interactions will be required, which may require new FMs tailored
specifically for unique base oil / additive pack combinations
Conclusion
• It has been shown that both polymeric and non-polymeric HPLA are effective in
reducing friction in neat MWF, hydraulic fluids and industrial gear oils
• Polymeric HPLA reduces torque in neat MWF by 7% in aluminium and 20% in

hard steel vs. conventional esters and 10% vs. commercially available high
viscosity esters. Wear is also reduced and synergy seen with phosphate esters
• Polymeric HPLA reduces friction in a hydraulic fluid additive pack but does not
have the required demulsification properties
• Non-polymeric HPLA was found to reduce friction in an industrial gear oil additive
pack whilst not negatively affecting demulsibility properties of the formulated
lubricant
• For each application the properties of the base oil and the specifications
demanded for the application dictate different novel lubricity additive / friction
modifier molecules
Acknowledgements
• Louise O’Sullivan – Applications Scientist
• John Eastwood – Marketing Manager
Disclaimer
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate and is given in good faith
but no representation or warranty as to its completeness or accuracy is made.
Suggestions for uses or applications are only opinions. Users are responsible for
determining the suitability of these products for their own particular purpose.
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made with respect to information

or products including without limitation warranties of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose or non-infringement of any third party patent or other intellectual
property rights including without limit copyright, trademark and designs.
Any trademarks identified herein are trademarks of the Croda group of companies.
© Copyright Croda Europe Ltd 2013. All Rights Reserved

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Friction Modifiers and

Lubricity Additives for

• Neat Metalworking Fluids

• Industrial Gear Oils

• Free from Phosphorus, Sulphur and Chlorine

• Examples of polymeric and non-polymeric

• Tailored to specific applications

Models of a conventional FM GMO vs polymeric HPLA

Green = non polar - oil soluble, Yellow = polar – attractive to metal

• Reduce the torque required for form tapping to provide

• Reduce wear to increase tool life

• Group I mineral oils used as the base fluid

• Polymeric High Performance Lubricity Additive (HPLA)

• HPLA can be used at lower treat-rates but will be

• Micro-Tapping (form tapping) Torque Test

• Reichert Wear Test

• 4-Ball Wear Test

• Mini-Traction Machine (coefficient of friction)

• Form tapping measured using a Microtap instrument

• 10% polymeric HPLA in base oil compared to:

• Records torque required to tap pre-formed holes

• 36N Load, ¾ “ ball on 46 mm disk, 3 runs

• Typical temperature in contact zone

• HPLAs are also extremely effective in ester base fluids

• Reduce friction of the fully formulated oil to:

• Provide greater wear protection to low viscosity oils

• Group II mineral oil used as base fluid

• Two commercial additive packages evaluated

• Gp II base oil + additive packs top treated with 1% polymeric

• Coefficient of friction tested using MTM machine

• Demulsification tested in 1:1 water over 30 minutes using ASTM

0.08 Commercial addpack 2 + 1 % HPLA

• Hydraulic fluids are required to pass a demulsification test ASTM

• If a hydraulic fluid becomes emulsified then cavitation is likely

• However, HPLA causes the hydraulic fluid to emulsify

• A re-design of the friction modifier is required to

• Reduce the coefficient of friction of the gear oil

• Increase the efficiency of the power transfer

• Base fluid used was PAO/ester blend (ISO 320)

• A commercial additive package was used as a reference add

• Coefficient of friction determined using the Mini-traction machine

• Demulsification tested in 1:1 water over 30 minutes using ASTM

Parameter Standard Values Modified IGO Values

• Polymeric HPLA shows no improvement over the commercial

0.09 Commercial Addpack in PAO/Ester

0.08 Commercial Addpack with 2 %

Commercial Addpack with 2 %

• Two non-polymeric HPLAs were tested and gave a good

• HPLA 2 does not cause the industrial gear oil formulation to

• Both non-polymeric HPLA 1 and HPLA 2 showed a significant reduction in

• Non-polymeric HPLA 1 failed the demulsification test whilst HPLA 2 passed

• Polymeric HPLA reduces torque in neat MWF by 7% in aluminium and 20% in

• Louise O’Sullivan – Applications Scientist

• John Eastwood – Marketing Manager

No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made with respect to information

© Copyright Croda Europe Ltd 2013. All Rights Reserved

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