BASE OIL
BASIC FEATURES OF BASE OILS
The main two elements of lubricants are base oils and additives. The lubricant itself might contain multiple base oils depending on the viscosity seeked on the final product,as well as the additives might be added either in the mixture form or separately.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFRENCES BETWEEN BASE OIL GRADES?
Base oils are mainly classified as their viscosities and commercially processed as per this classification. The most common processed oils in the industry are 70N, 150N, 500 N and 150 Bright Stock. These base oils are different from each other in terms of color and viscosity which the color gets dark and viscosity increases as moving forward from 70 N to 150BS.
BASE OIL TYPES
Base Oils can also be classified as per their basic chemical properties as paraffinic, naphthenic and aromatic. They can also be classified as different neutral products like 100SN,150 SN, 500 SN. The coding SN stands for ‘’Neutral Solvent’’ and the numbers stand for the viscosity of the mentioned base oil in the SUS (Saybolt Universal Seconds) unit. Base oils can be classified as their refining processes. They are called ‘’Neutral Solvents’’ if they are produced under different solvents specially processed. Base oils can also be produced by ‘’hydro-finished’’ method. They can also be manufactured by ‘’ hydro-cracked’’ way which the heavy molecules are distillated. Base oils can also be classified as Low Viscosity Index (LVI), Medium Viscosity Index(MVI), High Viscosity Index(HVI) or Very High Viscosity Index (XHVI).
APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENT BASE OILS
Naphthenic base oils are used in the circumstances which the end products are foreseen to be applied in relatively cold temperatures. Paraffinic base oils are applied where the HVI is required and in the not low-temperature application circumstances. Naphthenic and Paraffinic base oils are the most common used base oils.Aromatic base oils are seldomly used as a process oils.Additionally solvent refined paraffinic and naphthenic base oils are used in turbine oil manufacturing.The low volatility HVI base oils are also used in the manufacturing of thin oils which they will be applied in very cold temperatures.Synthetic base oils are used in very low or high temperatures.