Synthetic Base Oil Technology Development and Application Research

 

Synthetic Base Oil Technology Development and Application Research

 

1. Technological Evolution: From Mineral to Synthetic Oils

The global lubricant base oil industry has undergone three technological revolutions. Early mineral oils (Groups I-III) faced limitations like low viscosity indices (VI 95 for Group I) and poor low-temperature performance (-15℃ pour point). Hydroisomerization boosted Group II/III oils with VI 120-140. In the past decade, synthetic base oils (Groups IV/V) have grown at 5.6% CAGR, reaching 4.8 million tons in 2022, with polyalphaolefins (PAO) dominating 62% market share and alkylated naphthalenes (AN) accounting for 18%.

2. Composition and Performance Characteristics

1. ​​PAO Molecular Structure​​
   Controlled branching from C8-C12 α-olefin polymerization. Heao's PAO6 exemplifies:

• 5.95cSt @100℃, VI 135
• -58℃ pour point, 2260mPa·s CCS (-30℃)
• 4.7% Noack volatility (ASTM D5800)

2. ​​Alkylated Naphthalene Advantages​​
   Conjugated naphthalene structure enhances performance. Heao AN5 parameters:

• 26.5cSt @40℃, 220℃ flash point
• 803min rotary oxygen bomb value (155% > Group III)
• 0.1mg/cm² copper corrosion (ISO 4263)

 

3. Performance Comparison: Synthetic vs Conventional Oils

Parameter	Group III	PAO4	AN5	Improvement
Viscosity Index	129	125	68	-
Pour Point(℃)	-15	-60	-50	73%↑
Thermal Decomp.(℃)	185.4	230	202.9	9.4%↑
Oxidation Life(h)	315min	580min	803min	155%↑
Volatility Loss(%)	6.9	12.1	18.5	-

(Data Source: ASTM/ISO standards, Heao lab verification)

4. Application Fields and Solutions

1. ​​Automotive​​

• 0W-20 Full Synthetic: PAO4(60%)+AN5(10%) achieves 2.80mPa·s HTHS, meeting GF-6
• EV Drivetrains: PAO2(Noack 8.6%) solves e-motor cooling compatibility

2. ​​Industrial Equipment​​

• Wind Turbine Gearboxes: PAO1000(1008cSt@100℃) ensures -40℃ cold starts
• CNC Machines: AN23(206cSt@40℃) enables zero spindle wear

3. ​​Specialty Lubrication​​

• High-Temperature Chains: AN15(260℃ flash point) triples service life at 200℃
• Aerospace: PAO40+AN15 blends pass MIL-PRF-23699 certification

5. Heao Product Recommendations

1. ​​PAO Portfolio​​

• Energy-Efficient PAO4: For 0W-16/0W-20 oils, 3605mPa·s CCS@-35℃
• Ultra-Viscous PAO1000: Shear stability index (SSI) <5% for wind gearboxes
• Metallocene PAO: Narrow PDI(1.05) enhances formulation stability

2. ​​AN Product Line​​

• General AN5: 71% coking reduction replacing 10% Group III oil
• High-Temp AN23: 288℃ thermal stability meets ISO 6743-4
• Custom AN30: Supports -50℃ extreme conditions

3. ​​Blending Solutions​​

• Hydraulic Oil: PAO8(45%)+AN5(5%)+ester(10%), 5000h+ oxidation life
• Gear Oil: PAO40(30%)+AN15(15%), passes FZG Stage 12 test

This research demonstrates Heao's technological leadership in synthetic base oils through precise molecular engineering and application-driven development, providing reliable solutions for industrial upgrading and energy transition.