Investigation of palm-castor oil blends as base stocks of bio-lubricants for industrial applications

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the potential of using palm-castor oil blends as lubricating oil in industrial applications. Laboratory experiments to measure kinematic viscosity, flash point, copper corrosion, demulsibility, pour point and total acid number were conducted and compared with commercial lubricating oils. Change in kinematic viscosity with temperature of different palm-castor blends were best fitted to the Arrhenius model with R² value higher than 0.95 and AARD% is less than 1.5%. Addition of 40 and 50% of castor oil to 60 and 40% of palm oil resulted solutions with similar properties of Hydraulic68 and SAE30, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Bio-lubricants
• viscosity
• palm oil
• castor oil
• viscosity index

Acknowledgments

Authors express gratitude to L.N. Kalansooriya and T. A. Priyantha for their support and cooperation for the experimental work carried out in this paper.

Additional information

Funding

Authors express gratitude to University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka and University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka for UGC Block grant for strengthening research (Grant No. 2016/RU/PG-R/16/08) which made this study possible;University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka and University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka for UGC Block grant for strengthening research [Grant No. 2016/RU/PG-R/16/08].

Notes on contributors

T. K. K. S. Pathmasiri

T. K. K. S. Pathmasiri is a Lecturer of Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna. Her research interests are lubrication, lubricant oils and heat transfer.

G. I. P. Perera

G. I. P. Perera is a Senior Lecturer of Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna. Her research interests include bio-lubricants, vegetable oil based MWFs, Machining, etc.

R. Gallage

R. Gallage is a Senior Lecturer of University of Ruhuna. His research areas are materials science and nano technology.