CHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF ESTER LUBRICANTS

Gel permeation chromatography is shown to be a valuable technique for analysis of the oxidation and thermal degradation products of various types of esters. Esters potentially useful as synthetic lubricant basestocks, such as tridecyl pelargonate (a mono-ester), di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate (a diester) and trimethylolpropane triheptanoate (a neopentyl polyolester) form products of up to 50 000 molecular weight when oxidized at high temperatures. The oxidation products have been separated by molecular weight using preparative gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and then have been analyzed spectrographically. The polymeric products of oxidation show similar chemical bond structure for the various types of esters studied. The importance of oxygen and metal catalysis on product formation is demonstrated. The influence of steel surfaces on the products of oxidation suggests a tribochemical reaction resulting in the ultimate formation of a “friction polymer.”. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.