Castor oil as potential multifunctional additive in the formulation of eco-friendly lubricant

The article investigates the performance of polymers prepared from castor oil and dodecyl acrylate as biodegradable multifunctional additive in the formulation of eco-friendly lubricant. Homopolymer of castor oil and its copolymers with dodecyl acrylate (DA) at different percentage ratios (w/w) were synthesized using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator without any solvent. The polymers were characterized by spectral techniques (FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy). The molecular weight of all the prepared polymers was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal stability of the polymers was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Performance evaluation of all the prepared polymers in SN150 mineral oil as viscosity index improver (VII), pour point depressant (PPD) and antiwear were carried out according to standard ASTM methods. The action mechanism of the additives as PPD was studied by photo micrographic image. Biodegradability of all the samples was tested through soil burial test (SBT).