Ester oils
An Ester Oil is a synthetic base oil that has been chemically synthesized. Esters are derived from carboxylic acids. A carboxylic acid contains the -COOH group, and in an ester the hydrogen in this group is replaced by a hydrocarbon group of some kind. This could be an alkyl group like methyl or ethyl, or one containing a benzene ring like phenyl.
There are many types of Esters including polyolesters, complex esters and trimelitates. Esters are often used in jet engines lubrication due to their low temperature flowability with clean, high temperature capacity.
Esters are often used in combination with PAO's in fully synthetic motor oils - ester content varies from 5-25% depending on the ester and the desired properties.
The high performance properties and custom design versatility of esters is ideally suited to problem solving in the industrial arena. They are used widely in reciprocating air compressors and high temperature industrial oven chain lubricant.
These oils are available in a wide range of viscosities and are more generally used under high temperatures (maximum from 180 to 230°C).
Ester oils
In many ways esters are very similar to the more commonly known and used synthetic hydrocarbons or PAOs. Like PAOs, esters are synthesized from relatively pure and simple starting materials to produce predetermined molecular structures designed specifically for high performance lubrication. The disadvantages of esters include imcompatibility with elastomer material used in seals. All esters will tend to swell and soften most elastomer seals.Diesters were the original ester structures introduced to synthetic lubricants during the 1940's.
Adipates are the most widely used diesters due to their low relative cost and good balance of properties. They generally range from about 2.3 to 5.3 cSt at 100°C and exhibit pour points below -60°C.
Other diesters include Azelates, Sebacates, and Dodecanedioates which are similar to adipates. While diesters and polyol esters represent the most widely used ester families in synthetic lubrication, two other families are worth mentioning - monoesters and trimellitates.
Monoesters are used primarily for applications in extreme cold environments such as Arctic hyraulic applications and deep sea drilling.
Trimellitates have a low viscosity index and poor biodegradability with a price range between adipates and polyols. Trimellitates are generally used where high viscosity is needed as in gear lubricants, chain lubricants, and grease.
Esters are a broad and diverse family of synthetic lubricant base oils which can be designed to meet specific physical and performance properties. The inherent polarity of esters improves their performance in lubrication by reducing volatility, increasing lubricity, providing cleaner operation and making the products biodegradable.
They may be used alone in very high temperature applications for optimum performance or blended with PAOs or other synthetic base oils to improve the balance of the finished lubricant. Esters have been used in synthetic lubricants for more than 60 years and continue to grow as the drive for efficiency make operating environments more severe.
Ester oils
The IKV RAMCA series is an ester range. This range of synthetic oils has low residue levels & is intended for use on chains up to 250°C. They also offer very good anti-wear capacities, high resistance to temperature and low dripping levels. The Ramca products keep the chains clean thanks to their detergent effect thereby improving the useful life of the chains.
IKV-RAMCA 100 is a special synthetic ester oil with an extremely low evaporation rate even when working in the temperature range of 200°C to 260°C. Its excellent resistance to oxidation and extremely well balanced additive package make it very stable in a large range of temperatures and helps avoid lacquer residues at high temperatures.
IKV-RAMCA 100 also provides excellent anti-wear and extreme pressure protection.It was specifically developed for the lubrication of chains and bearings which are operating at temperatures between 170°C and 280°C in continuous use.
Typical applications include:
- chains and tracks for textile frames
- chains and rollers for continuous particle board presses
- chains and bearings situated in stoves, ovens and dryers
- chains and rollers in high temperature bakery ovens
IKV-RAMCA 150 is a special synthetic ester oil which does not form coking residues when subjected to high temperatures.
IKV-RAMCA 250 is also a special synthetic ester oil with an extremely low evaporation rate which can be used up to 260 °C as a high temperature oil for circulation or total loss oil applications.
IKV-RAMCA 250 was specifically developed for the lubrication of chains and bearings which are operating at temperatures between 170°C and 280°C in continuous use. Typical applications include:
- chains and tracks for textile frames
- chains and rollers for continuous particle board presses
- chains and bearings situated in stoves and dryers
- chains and rollers in high temperature bakery ovens
IKV-RAMCA 320N is a totally synthetic oil with a viscous structure and an extremely low evaporation rate even when working continuously in the temperature range of 200°C to 260°C.
The range also includes:-
RAMCA 50
RAMCA 250 Spray
RAMCA 320
RAMCA 460
RAMCA 4600
RAMCA 4600 Spray
Ester oils
Ester oils
