Anti-wear properties of bio-grease from modified palm oil and calcium soap thickener
Abstract
Sukirno1, Ludi1, Rizqon2, Bismo1, Nasikin1
(1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Indonesia; 2. Laboratory for Thermodynamics,
Motor and Propulsion BPPT Indonesia, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Indonesia Depok 16424, Indonesia)
Abstract: An environmental friendly palm-grease has already been formulated using modified palm oil as base oil and calcium 12-hydroxy-stearate as thickener. Such palm-grease is dedicated for bearing and gear applications in industrial equipment that requires food-grade lubricant, such as in food processing and pharmaceutical machineries. The grease was manufactured via four steps of processes: saponification in a pressurized reactor, soap dilution by heating, crystallization by cooling, and homogenization. Additive-free palm-grease using modified RBDPO (Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil) and epoxy RBDPO as the base oil and calcium soap as thickener gave dropping point of 130℃ and consistency NLGI Grade 3. In the test using 4-ball wear-test, it showed an anti-wear performance that was comparable to that of the commercial food-grade grease, using mineral oil as base oil. The ability of the palm-grease to provide an anti-wear property was probably due to the presence of epoxy ring -COC-, ester groups -COOC- and hydroxides –OH.
Keywords: Bio-grease, modified RBDPO, consistency, dropping point, anti-wear property
Citation: Sukirno, Ludi, Rizqon, Bismo, Nasikin. Anti-wear properties of bio-grease from modified palm oil and calcium soap thickener. Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(2): 64-69.
