What is Mineral Oil and How is it Obtained?

Lubricating oil is generally obtained by blending base oils of varying viscosities with a range of specialized additives. These additives may differ depending on the desired performance characteristics of the oil.
For this reason, it is crucial to determine the structural properties that should be considered when selecting additives during the production process. The base oil, on the other hand, is derived from crude oil extracted from the ground and refined to become an integral part of the final formulation.

Intended Use of Lubricants
No matter how flawlessly the parts of the machines are manufactured, it is very difficult to achieve a perfect gloss and smoothness on the surfaces of the parts. Indentations and protrusions called asperities, which can only be seen with a microscope, will definitely form on the surfaces of these parts.
These indentations are the result of two surfaces coming into contact with each other continuously for a long time. They also cause resistance to surface movements and increased friction in parts that do not use lubricants.
The main purpose of using lubricants is to reduce this friction in the best possible way. Mineral oil forms a film layer on the surfaces in contact with each other non-stop and helps the parts to move much more easily by moving the two solid objects away from each other in this way.

How is Mineral Oil Production Made?
One of the products produced by the refining process of crude oil is a lubricant called mineral oil. During its production, after the oil refining process, it is again subjected to special processes and some base oils are obtained as raw materials.
Lubricating oil is obtained by mixing base oils with different viscosities with various additives selected to meet expectations. It is critical to choose the right lubricant for the intended use.

What are the Differences Between Lubricants?
It is possible to find many types of lubricants in the sector and the raw material used in all of these lubricants is the same. However, base oils may differ due to the different materials used in the production of the oils.
There are two reasons for these differences. Differences in the chemical properties of the base oils used in the production of lubricants, the amount and types of solids used are the factors that reveal the distinction.
Classification of Lubricants
Lubricants are classified in two different groups as "Mineral Base Oils" and "Synthetic Base Oils" according to the chemicals and additives they contain.
 
Mineral Base Oils
It is possible to examine them in 3 groups in terms of their chemical structure and the properties they add to oils.
 
1. Aliphatics :
Organic compounds and derivatives containing a skeleton in the form of a straight or chained skeleton formed by covalent bonding of various atoms in their molecular structure.
 
Paraffinic oils are refined through hydrocracking process or extraction method. They show high flash points, low volatility, good color stability. These oils are a good choice for applications requiring stability in terms of properties in high temperature environments and low color.
 
 

 – Paraffinic :

Paraffinic oils are refined through hydrocracking process or extraction method. They show high flash points, low volatility, good color stability. These oils are a good choice for applications requiring stability in terms of properties in high temperature environments and low color.

 – Naphthenic :

Naphthanic oils have a wide range of applications among the lubricant options. This oil has a wide viscosity range and also features flash, payback power and color refinement.

2.  Aromatikler :

In paraffinic oil production, aromatic oils are obtained as a result of aromatic extraction. They have dark color, low aniline points, relatively high flash points and high aromatic content. Aromatic oils are used in the lubricant industry in normal applications where some degree of payback is desired for high softening or where they have a plasticizing effect.

3. Aliphatic and aromatic:

It is not possible to ensure complete brightness and smoothness even on the surface of perfectly manufactured parts. For this reason, mineral oil must be used to make the parts bright and smooth.

LUBRICANT OIL TECHNICAL TABLE	MINERAL OILS	SHC (PAO)	POLYGLYCOLS
Density (g/ml) at 20°C	0,9	0,8…0,9	0,9…1,1
Viscosity Index (VI)	80…100	100…130	150…270
Freezing Point (°C)	-40…-10	-40…-25	-56…-23
Flash Point (°C)	< 250	< 250	150…300
Oxidation Resistance	Middle	Good	Good
Thermal Resistance	Middle	Good	Good
Lubrication Capability	Good	Good	Very good
Sealing Element Compatibility	Good	Middle	Good

Aliphatic compounds are vehicles that react like alkanes, alkenes, alkynes or their derivatives. Aromatic compounds are compounds such as benzene derivatives or benzene heterocyclic.

Note: Oxidation means that the oil starts to sludge. If the lubricant starts to show oxidation, it must be replaced.

Synthetic Base Oils
The properties of mineral base oils are limited by the structural properties of crude oil. At the same time, the rapid increase in oil prices has been observed in recent years due to the decrease in oil production worldwide.
Today, due to the rapidly developing technology, lubricants that can work under much more difficult conditions are needed. For this reason, studies on the use of synthetic lubricants are increasing rapidly day by day.

How are Synthetic Oils Obtained?
Synthetic oils are obtained as a result of non-petroleum based chemical synthesis methods. At this stage, hydrocarbon molecules are designed to be similar to each other in terms of shape and size to form a synthetic structure using a chemical process.
The structure of synthetic oils is carefully regulated. This minimizes friction, reduces temperature, reduces wear and maximizes energy savings. Thanks to all these features, synthetic oils in mineral oil are preferred for their superior properties.

They flow easily at low temperatures and do not thin out at high temperatures. Thanks to their high oxidation properties and thermal resistance, they significantly extend the service life of machines.
Synthetic oils are produced in a laboratory environment using a special technology. They are resistant to much higher and lower temperatures than mineral oils, one of the mineral oil derivatives. They also work perfectly in high pressure environments.
 

Major Synthetic Base Oils
(PAO)
Alkaline Aromatic
Aliphatic Diester
Polyolester
Polybutenes
Phosphate Ester
Polyalkenglycol
 
 
Synthetic oils, which are included in lubricants, are very costly products due to their raw materials and the use of high technology in their production. For this reason, synthetic oils are slightly more expensive than mineral oils. Thus, mineral oil prices vary in terms of the materials used in their production.

Where is Mineral Oil Used?
 
Mineral oil manufacturers have succeeded in producing lubricants with a higher viscosity range day by day. These types of oils are very suitable options for the use of businesses in many sectors.
 
It is possible to list the areas of use in terms of lubricants and their properties as follows.
 
Mineral oil utilizing liquid lubricants is very successful in the lubrication of chains with links and bearings in powder coating lines.
They are used for the lubrication of machines used in packaging processes.
The use of mineral oil in machines operating in high temperature ranges is quite humid. In this way, they contribute to extending the life of the machines.
 
With their low viscosity, they are preferred as hydraulic lubricants in machines used in the pharmaceutical industry.
They are used for lubricating the chains of machines operating in low temperature environments where the possibility of contact with food is high.
 
Mineral oil is used in all closed circulation systems.
They are used for lubrication of slide systems in gear couplings.
They are used in closed systems operating under heavy conditions, impact or load.
They take an active role to meet the lubrication needs of the textile industry. They play an important role in the lubrication of stenter chains, especially in machines operating with automatic lubrication system.