Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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A Study on the Synthesis and Tribological Characteristics of Calcium Sulfonate Grease with Improved Low-temperature Performance

저온 성능이 향상된 Calcium Sulfonate 그리스의 합성 및 트라이볼로지 특성 연구

  • Received : 2023.05.31
  • Accepted : 2023.07.06
  • Published : 2023.08.10
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Abstract

We have investigated the performance improvement of grease by synthesizing calcium sulfonate grease as an alternative to lithium grease, which is widely used globally. Since the composition ratio of the grease, when manufactured, is usually 50% base oil and 50% thickener, using grease as a lubricant in a cryogenic environment is not encouraged due to its inferior low-temperature performance. In this study, we have synthesized three types of calcium sulfonate grease with paraffin oil and PAO-based base oil and thickener. Furthermore, lithium grease was synthesized via saponification with PAO-based base oil, lithium hydroxide, 12-hydroxystearic acid, and sebacic acid. We have measured low-temperature characteristics using a rheometer and low-temperature torque meter, and tribology characteristics were obtained using a four-ball lubricant tester and schwingung reibung verschleiß (SRV). As a result, the flow point of the calcium sulfonate grease synthesized with a PAO-based base oil and thickener was found to be -40℃, overcoming the existing calcium sulfonate grease's low-temperature limitation. Moreover, the synthesized calcium sulfonate grease showed low-temperature performance similar to that of lithium grease synthesized with PAO base oil, but superior anti-wear, extreme pressure, coefficient of friction, heat resistance, adhesion, and corrosion resistance. It is thus expected to commercially replace the existing lithium grease.

세계적으로 가장 많이 사용되고 있는 리튬 그리스의 대체 물질로서 calcium sulfonate 그리스를 합성하여 성능을 개선하였다. Calcium sulfonate 그리스의 저온성 문제를 해결하기 위하여 PAO (poly alpha olefin) 기반의 기유와 증주제를 도입하였다. 본 연구에서는 파라핀 오일과 PAO 기반의 기유와 증주제로 calcium sulfonate 그리스 3종을 합성하였으며, PAO 기반의 기유와 수산화 리튬, 12-hydroxy stearic acid, sebacic acid의 비누화 반응으로 리튬 그리스 1종을 합성하였다. 합성한 calcium sulfonate 그리스 3종과 리튬 그리스의 형태, 미세 구조 및 작용기는 SEM 및 FT-IR로 분석하였다. 저온 특성은 rheometer, low temperature torque로 측정하였고, 트라이볼로지 특성은 four ball lubricant tester, SRV로 측정하였다. 그 결과, PAO 기반의 기유와 증주제로 합성된 calcium sulfonate 그리스는 -40℃에서도 유동할 수 있었으며, 기존 calcium sulfonate 그리스의 저온 특성의 한계점을 극복하였다. 또한 합성한 calcium sulfonate 그리스는 PAO 기유로 합성된 리튬 그리스보다 우수한 내마모성, 내하중성, 마찰계수, 내열성, 점착성 및 내부식성을 보였으므로 상업적으로 기존의 리튬 그리스를 대체할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

Keywords

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