Alkylated Aromatics

This chapter discusses the alkylated aromatics into three classes of fluids according to the aromatic components: alkylnaphthalenes, alkylbenzenes and alkylated aromatics containing hetero-atoms. Most alkylated aromatic fluids are produced from a well-known chemistry, the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of aromatic compounds. Alkylated aromatics lubes made from Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions usually have very complex chemical compositions with many possible isomers. Alkylnaphthalenes (ANs) can be synthesized by the alkylation of naphthalene with an olefin over a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. ANs have superior thermal stability - the best among all the common synthetic base stocks. AN fluids have superior thermal, oxidative, and hydrolytic stability, lubricity, and excellent additive solubility. ANs can be synthesized by the alkylation of naphthalene with an olefin over a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. In the past, Nippon Oil Co. has marketed a long-drain synthetic lubricant based on AN fluids for rotary air compressors.