Bio-Based Polyricinoleate and Polyhydroxystearate: Properties and Evaluation as Viscosity Modifiers for Lubricants

This paper aims to design bio-based polyester as a viscosity modifier for lubricant properties. Bio-based polyricinoleate (PRic) and its saturated homologous polyhydroxystearate (PHS) have been synthesized from fatty acid methyl esters.

The polycondensation performed in bulk in a one-step reaction without any purification leads to two series of polyesters within a large range of molecular weights, with M_w between 3 and 130 kg·mol^–1. Their thermal properties were investigated. Good thermal stability was observed with degradation temperatures above 300 °C. As expected, PRic appeared to be amorphous with a particularly low glass-transition temperature, while PHS is semicrystalline. A rheological study determined that polyricinoleate entangled when its molecular weight was above 25 kg·mol^–1.

These two bio-based and biodegradable polymers were then evaluated as viscosity modifiers in both organic and mineral oils. PHS with high molecular weights appeared to be an excellent thickener as well as a good viscosity index improver with a viscosity index (VI) increase above +50 in organic lubricant oil and +64 in mineral oil.

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Article Information: Hélène Méheust, Jean-François Le Meins, Etienne Grau, et al. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2021. American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.0c01153