Calcium Soap Lubricants

Abstract

The reparation and characterization of calcium stearate (CaSt2) and a lubricant by using calcium stearate were aimed at in this study. Calcium stearate powder was prepared from sodium stearate and calcium chloride by precipitation from aqueous solutions. CaSt2 and the Light Neutral Base oil were mixed together to obtain lubricating oil. It was found that CaSt2 had a melting temperature of 142.8 °C and in base oil it had a lower melting point, above 128 °C. It was dispersed as lamellar micelles as the optical micrographs had shown. From rate of settling the size of dispersed particles were found to be 1.88 µm and 0.11 µm for lubricants having 1% and 2% CaSt2, respectively. The friction coefficient and wear scar diameter of base oil 0.099 and 1402 nm were reduced to 0.0730 and 627.61 nm respectively for the lubricant having 1% CaSt2. Lower wear scar diameter (540 nm) was obtained for lubricant with 2% CaSt2. CaSt2 improved the lubricating property of the base oil but did not improve its oxidative and thermal stability. © 2015 by Apple Academic Press, Inc.