What are Lubricant Antioxidant Additives?
In the process of industrial production and daily equipment operation, lubricants play a vital role. Take automotive engines and large - scale industrial machinery in factories as examples. Without the lubrication of lubricants, the friction between mechanical components would increase significantly. It's like human joints losing the lubrication of synovial fluid, causing equipment operation to become extremely unsmooth and potentially even leading to rapid damage.
The working environment of lubricants is extremely harsh. They are constantly subjected to high temperatures, high pressures, and frequent exposure to air and moisture. Under such conditions, lubricants are highly prone to oxidation and degradation. Once these issues occur, their lubricating performance will decline sharply, affecting the normal operation of the equipment and greatly shortening its service life.
To maintain the excellent performance of lubricants and extend their service life, adding antioxidants is a crucial step. This process is similar to adding preservatives to perishable food. Antioxidants can effectively delay the oxidation process of lubricants and maintain their chemical stability.
Antioxidants are additives specifically designed to prevent the oxidation and degradation of lubricants. Based on differences in their mechanisms of action, antioxidants currently on the market are mainly classified into three categories: free - radical terminators, peroxide decomposers, and metal deactivators.
Free radical Terminator: The "Terminator" of Chain Reactions
Free radical terminators are organic compounds capable of providing active hydrogen atoms. In the initial stage of lubricant oxidation, highly reactive free radicals are generated. These free radicals are like unstable high energy particles that initiate a series of chain reactions in the lubricant system, accelerating the oxidation of the lubricant.
The mechanism of action of free radical terminators is that the active hydrogen atoms they provide can rapidly combine with free radicals to form stable compounds, thus interrupting the chain reaction of lubricant oxidation and achieving the purpose of delaying oxidation.
Common free radical terminators mainly include two types: phenolic and amine based. Phenolic antioxidants perform outstandingly in terms of antioxidant properties and can effectively inhibit oxidation reactions. However, their applicable temperature range is relatively narrow, and when the temperature rises, the antioxidant effect will weaken significantly.
Amine based antioxidants, on the other hand, have a relatively high applicable temperature range and good durability, enabling them to continuously exert antioxidant effects under relatively harsh working conditions. Nevertheless, amine based antioxidants have certain limitations. They can easily cause the lubricant to darken in color and may even produce precipitates, affecting the appearance and performance of the lubricant.
In turbine oils, to fully utilize the advantages of these two types of antioxidants, phenolic and amine based antioxidants are usually added simultaneously. By leveraging their synergistic effects, they jointly safeguard the quality of the lubricant.
Peroxide Decomposer: Decomposing Hidden Dangers and Stabilizing Oil Products
Peroxide decomposers are mainly sulfur containing or sulfur phosphorus containing compounds. When a lubricant oxidizes, unstable alkyl hydroperoxides are formed. This substance has high reactivity, similar to a potential reaction initiator, which can further accelerate the oxidation process of the lubricant.
The function of peroxide decomposers is to decompose the unstable alkyl hydroperoxides into stable compounds through chemical reactions, thereby effectively reducing the oxidation rate of the lubricant and extending its service life.
Currently, peroxide decomposers mainly come in two types: dialkyldithiophosphate and dialkyldithiocarbamate. Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) is a typical representative of the dialkyldithiophosphate type, and zinc dialkyldithiocarbamate (ZDTC) is a common compound of the dialkyldithiocarbamate type.
Peroxide decomposers are widely used in various lubricants such as hydraulic oils and engine oils. Among them, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) is particularly commonly used in these fields due to its good comprehensive performance.
Metal Deactivator: Passivating Metals and Blocking Oxidation "Catalysts"
Metal deactivators, also known as metal passivators. Metals, especially metal ions, have a significant catalytic effect on the oxidation of lubricants. Just as a catalyst in a chemical reaction can accelerate the reaction rate, metal ions can promote the oxidation of lubricants, causing them to deteriorate more quickly.
The principle of action of metal deactivators is to react chemically with metals or metal ions, rendering them inactive in catalyzing the oxidation reaction of the oil product, thereby delaying the oxidation rate of the oil product.
Metal deactivators mainly have two modes of action: one is to form stable complexes with metal ions, rendering them catalytically inactive; the other is to form a dense chemical protective film on the metal surface, preventing metal ions from entering the lubricant system and blocking the catalytic effect of the oxidation reaction at the source.
Metal deactivators are usually compounds containing sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, or other non - metallic elements. Common varieties include benzotriazole derivatives and thiadiazole derivatives. These compounds can selectively act on metals and effectively inhibit the catalytic effect of metals on the oxidation of lubricants.
In practical applications, these types of antioxidants are rarely used alone. They are usually compounded. Free - radical terminators are often used as primary antioxidants because they can directly interrupt the chain reaction of oxidation. Peroxide decomposers and metal passivators act as auxiliary antioxidants, working in coordination with the primary antioxidant. They complement each other and play an important role in improving the quality of lubricants, enhancing the antioxidant performance of oil products, and extending the service life of oil products.
With the continuous progress of science and technology, lubricant and additive technologies are also constantly evolving. To meet the development trends of the times and environmental protection requirements, more and more environmentally friendly, composite, high - efficiency, and multi - functional antioxidants are being developed. These new antioxidants can not only better meet the high - performance requirements of modern industry for lubricants but also reduce the impact on the environment and contribute to sustainable development. It is believed that in the future, antioxidant technology will continue to innovate, bringing more breakthroughs and developments to the lubricant field.
The Price of Metal Deactivators
The price of Metal Deactivators depending on factors such as brand, specification, composition, and sales channels. If you are interested in Metal Deactivators, please feel free to contact us.
Supplier of Metal Deactivators
UNPChemicals is a professional supplier of high-quality and effective Metal Deactivators. We offer several remarkable products, namely Thiadiazole octyl mercaptan condensate DMTD-8,Thiadiazole tert-nonyl mercaptan condensate DMTD-9,Thiadiazole tert-dodecyl mercaptan condensate DMTD-12,Thiadiazole tert-dodecyl mercaptan condensate CSAIL T561,etc.
Thiadiazole octyl mercaptan condensate DMTD-8 is a liquid ash-free metal deactivator, which has extreme pressure and auxiliary antioxidant effects, and is widely used in various automotive and industrial lubricating oils and metal working fluids. At very low concentrations, it can effectively prevent the corrosion of active sulfur on copper and copper alloys, and its unique composition can also inhibit the corrosion of hydrogen sulfide.
Thiadiazole tert-nonyl mercaptan condensate, commercially known as DMTD-9, is an organosulfur compound carrying the CAS number 91648-65-6. As a lubricant, fuel or metalworking fluid additive, it demonstrates several key features that make it valuable in a variety of industrial and automotive applications.
Thiadiazole tert-dodecyl mercaptan condensate DMTD-12is a valuable lubricant additive, known for its ashless, extreme pressure, and oxidation resistance properties. Its ability to act as a metal deactivator makes it an effective choice for preventing corrosion and enhancing the performance and protection offered by automotive and industrial lubricants and metalworking fluids.
Thiadiazole tert-dodecyl mercaptan condensate CSAIL T561 is a liquid ashless metal deactivator with extreme pressure and oxidation resistance effects. Used for various automotive and industrial lubricating oils and metalworking fluid. At very low concentration, it can effectively prevent the corrosion of active sulfur on copper and copper alloys.
Professional Lubricant Additive Manufacturer
UNPChemicals, aka Luoyang Pacific United Petrochemical Co., Ltd., focuses on the application and development of special lubricating grease additives such as MODTC, MODTP, molybdenum amide, thiadiazole metal deactivators, and phosphate esters. With nearly 30 products in seven series, including extreme pressure anti-wear additives and special grease additives, it is a global manufacturer of special lubricating grease additives and a national high-tech enterprise with great influence and leading role in the industry. If you are looking for Lubricant Additive or technical information, feel free to contact UNPChemicals.