Low-SAPS additives for lubrication in next-generation vehicles
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to create sustainable additives for future vehicles, characterized by low levels of sulfated ash, sulfur and phosphorus (SAPS) or even SAPS-free alternatives. These newly developed additives must not only match or outperform the current commercial benchmarks in terms of tribological performance, but also align with the emerging sustainability trends. It is anticipated that this innovative technology will yield promising outcomes in the realm of hybrid and electric vehicles.
Design/methodology/approach
This research primarily focused on chemical synthesis, performance evaluation and characterizations. These aspects were studied through collaboration between Syensqo, Southwest Research Institute (the USA) and the Lab of the Future in France. The data was generated and analyzed by a team of research scientists, internship students and technical specialists.
Findings
Two types of additives have been specifically designed and synthesized in accordance with sustainable requirements. Both technologies have exhibited exceptional frictional and wear-resistant properties. Moreover, the leading candidates exhibit a lower rate of copper corrosion, stable electric conductivity and outstanding thermal stability when compared to commercial benchmarks. This study is expected to open a new research avenue for developing next-generation additives for lubricants, with wide potential applications including hybrid electric vehicle and electric vehicle markets.
Originality/value
In the current lubricant market, there is a lack of effective low-SAPS or SAPS-free additives. This research aims to address this gap by designing sustainable additives for next-generation vehicles that not only meet specific requirements but also maintain optimal lubrication performance.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2024-0033/
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Southwest Research Institute for conducting ASTM D130 copper corrosion tests, photo images and ICP elemental analysis. Jean-Noël Tourvieille performed electrical conductivity measurements in the Syensqo Lab of the Future (LOF) in Bordeaux-Pessac, France. The authors acknowledge the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, University of Pennsylvania, for the use of Quanta 600 FEG ESEM. The authors thank Anne Vandenabbeele for the intellectual property check and Drexel internship students (Nana Brown, Thiha Thway and James Huynh) for their support in tribology experiments.
Conflict of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation
He, X., Chretien, C., Weathers, T., Burel, C., Gody, G. and Back, O. (2024), "Low-SAPS additives for lubrication in next-generation vehicles", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-01-2024-0033
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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