What is Polyalphaolefin made from?
Polyalphaolefin (PAO) is manufactured through a synthetic chemical process that originates from ethylene. Ethylene is produced by cracking either crude oil or natural gas.
What is polyalphaolefin used for?
Polyalphaolefin (PAO) fluids are the most common major synthetic base oil used in industrial and automotive lubricants. These synthetic hydrocarbons are designed to provide superior lubrication performance over a wider operating-temperature range than petroleum oils and typically are less volatile.
What does PAO Synthetic mean?
Poly Alpha Olefin or PAO is a 100% synthetic base oil stock used in the production of high performance lubricants. PAO’s typically have a higher viscosity index than mineral oils and better oxidative stability- i.e.they are less likely to breakdown.
What is Pao made from?
Group IV: PAO Poly-alpha-olefin (poly-α-olefin, PAO) is a non-polar polymer made by polymerizing an alpha-olefin. They are designated at API Group IV and are a 100% synthetic chemical compound. It is a specific type of olefin (organic) that is used as a base stock in the production of some synthetic lubricants.
Is Polyalphaolefin petroleum based?
Polyalphaolefin is by far the most common major synthetic base oil used in industrial and automotive lubricants. It is a synthetic hydrocarbon (SHC) that mimics the best hydrocarbon (branched) structure found in mineral oils.
Is Polyalphaolefin biodegradable?
Unlike mineral oils, low viscosity polyalphaolefin synthetic fluids (especially 2 and 4mm2/s fluids) are inherently biodegradable. PAO fluids are also considered to be non-toxic and non-irritating to mammals.
What is the main advantage of Polyalphaolefin based fluids over mineral based fluids?
Polyalphaolefin hydraulic fluids have many advantages over the mineral oil counterparts including low temperature flow characteristics, lower volatility, and oxidative stability (Chrisope and Landry 1993; Shubkin 1993).
Are there any negatives to using polyalphaolefin base oil?
However, nothing is perfect, and polyalphaolefin base oils do have a few negative characteristics. These include the tendency to shrink seals and trouble dissolving common oil additives.
What kind of structure is found in polyalphaolefin?
It is a synthetic hydrocarbon (SHC) that mimics the best hydrocarbon (branched) structure found in mineral oils. Polyalphaolefin does not contain ring structures, double bonds, sulphur, nitrogen components or waxy hydrocarbons.
What happens if polyalphaolefin is used in a fire?
Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution. (ERG, 2016) POLYALPHAEOLEFINS may react vigorously with strong oxidizing agents. May react exothermically with reducing agents to release hydrogen gas.
When did polyalphaolefin ( PAO ) lubricants start to be used in cars?
Developed in the 1930s; first commercial engine oils in 1970s Made from ethylene gas; still crude oil/natural gas dependent PAO up to approximately 160°C (320°F) continuous service; 270°C (520°F) intermittent