METALWORKING LUBRICATING OIL

Abstract: A metalworking lubricating oil having improved lubricity contains one or more defined tri-esters of tri-mellitic acid. Preferred tri-esters are tri-2-ethylhexyl-trimellitate, tri-normal-octyl-trimellitate or mixtures thereof.

Description: The present invention relates to a metal working lubricating oil having improved lubrication properties. The use of esters in lubricating oils is known. For example, U.S. Patent 2,134,736 discloses that esters of polybasic carboxylic acids, particularly dibasic carboxylic acids, when admixed with hydrocarbon oils, are of special utility in extreme pressure lubrication applications; e.g. gear and bearing oils, metal cutting and boring oils, etc. As another example, U.S. Patent 3,769,215 discloses ester lubricant compositions in which the esters are derived from polyoxyalkalene glycols with dibasic acid mixture consisting of dimer acids and short-chained dibasic acids. In yet another example, U.S. Patent 4,178,260 discloses ester based metalworking lubricants in which preferred lubricants comprise a mixture of (i) tetraester of pentaerythritol and a C₆-C₂₀ aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, and (ii) orthophosphoric acid. U.S. Patents 4,618,441 and 4,655,947 disclose a lubricant composition comprising a mineral oil and an alkoxyalkyl ester., Finally, published European Patent Application 157,583A describes the use of certain trimellitates in crank case lubricants in automotive engines. According to the present invention there is provided the use of at least one tri-ester having the general formula wherein R is an alkyl group having from 6 to 13 carbon atoms, as an additive in a metalworking lubricating oil composition to improve its friction-reducing properties and/or to improve the brightness of metal worked in the presence of the lubricating oil. Preferred compositions contain a minor amount of tri-2-ethylhexyltrimellitate (TOTM), tri-normal-octyl-trimellitate (TNOTM) or mixtures thereof. The use of the additive provides improved lubricity and/or imparts improved brightness to a worked sample relative to that obtained if, for example, TOTM or TNOTM were not present in said oil. The present invention also contemplates an improved metalworking method, which comprises performing a metalworking operation using the said lubricating oil composition. Metalworking operations include cold rolling. Metals include alloys. Stainless steel sheets and foil are illustrative of metals and forms thereof. Figures 1-3 show the variation in friction coefficient with time for a base oil, alone and in combination with various additives, at three temperatures. Figure 4 shows the variation in brightness with rolling speed for two different oils. Figure 5 shows the variation in % brightness with reduction rate for three different oils. The following description relates, for non-limitative illustrative purposes, to the use of two tri-esters, TOTM and TNOTM. The metalworking lubricating oil to which TOTM or TNOTM is added will comprise a major amount of a lubricating basestock (or base oil) and a minor amount of TOTM or TNOTM. The basestock may include liquid hydrocarbons such as mineral lubricating oils, synthetic lubricating oils or mixtures thereof. It is very preferred that the basestock contain minor amounts of aromatics (e.g. from 4 to 10 wt. %, preferably from 5.5 to 8 wt. %) and have a saponification number from 15 to 40, preferably from 20 to 35 and more preferably from 25 to 30. A preferred basestock is a paraffin distillate that has been solvent extracted and hydrofined such that the sulfur level range from 0.1 to 0.5 wt. %. Typically, the base oil viscosity will range from 8 to 20 cSt (8 to 20 mm²/s), preferably from 9 to 15 cSt (9 to 15 mm²/s) at 40°C. The amount of TOTM or TNOTM present in said metalworking lubricating oil will vary depending upon the degree of brightness desired, the specific operating parameters used and the specific applications of the oil. In general, the amount need only be that which is sufficient or effective to impart improved brightness to said oil while remaining soluble therein. Typically, however, the amount will range from 8 to 15 wt. %, preferably from 10 to 13 wt. %, of said lubricating oil. TOTM and TNOTM are commercially available compounds and can be prepared by known reactions. In addition to TOTM or TNOTM, other additives known in the art may be included in said lubricating oil if desired. For example, an oxidation inhibitor could be added to improve the oxidation stability of said oil. The lubricating oil containing TOTM or TNOTM is suitable for use in metalworking applications when metal surfaces are rubbing against each other. The oil has particular application as a lubricant during the cold rolling of metal sheets and foils, especially stainless steel sheets and foils. When the oil is used in such applications, there results an improved brightness of the metal and a reduction in friction between the rubbing metals being lubricated. The roughness of the rolled metal is also minimized. Typically, the oil will have a viscosity ranging from 8 to 20 cSt (8 to 20 mm²/s) at 40°C. Although the oil has been described with respect to the use of TOTM and its isomer TNOTM, certain homologues of said compounds may also be suitably employed in said oil. As such, the class of tri-esters which can be used will have the general formula: wherein R is an alkyl group having from 6 to 13 carbon atoms; e.g. tri-normal-nonyl-trimellitate (C₉), tri-iso-decyl-trimellitate (C₁₀) and the like. However, TOTM or TNOTM (in which R is 8 carbon atoms) is preferred. The present invention may be further understood by reference to the following examples which are not intended to restrict the scope of the claims appended hereto. Example 1 - Effect of TOTM on Friction Coefficient Tests were performed on 30 cc samples of a base oil, alone and in combination with certain additives, using a Ball-on-Cylinder machine to determine the effect of said additives on the coefficient of friction. The machine used is described by R. Benzing, et al in Friction and Wear Devices, Second Edition, American Society of Lubricating Engineers (1976), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The machine was operated at room air with a 4 kg load being applied for about 20 minutes at three temperatures (90°, 120° and 150°C) while the cylinder was rotated at 0.8 rpm (11.3 cm/min). The metallurgy was 52,100 stainless steel (SUJ-2) for both the ball (1.25 cm in diameter) and the rotating cylinder (46 mm x 18 mm). The ball and cylinder had a surface roughness of 2 and 6 micro inches (0.05 and 0.15 micrometres), respectively. The Rockwel hardness of the cylinder was 62. The base oil tested had the following specifications: Aromatics, wt.% 5.6 Viscosity, cSt at 40°C 9.5 Sulfur, wt.% 0.2 The base oil plus additives tested were as follows: Base oil + 10 wt. % C₁₂/C₁₆ alcohol Base oil + 10 wt. % C₁₈ butyl stearate Base oil + 10 wt. % TOTM The saponification number of the base oil/TOTM mixture was 30. The results of these tests are summarized in Table 1 below and shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Temperature 0 min 5 min 10 min 15 min 20 min 90°C Base oil 0.216 0.102 0.204 0.204 0.228 Plus alcohol 0.184 0.180 0.168 0.178 0.178 Plus B. stearate 0.204 0.180 0.173 0.204 0.240 Plus TOTM 0.192 0.168 0.168 0.182 0.184 120°C Base oil 0.264 0.226 0.322 0.349 0.341 Plus alcohol 0.228 0.211 0.204 0.240 0.224 Plus B. stearate 0.217 0.217 0.214 0.238 0.277 Plus TOTM 0.204 0.204 0.209 0.228 0.220 150°C Base oil Plus alcohol 0.240 0.408 0.360 0.349 0.365 Plus B. stearate 0.217 0.360 0.385 0.409 0.409 Plus TOTM 0.204 0.312 0.348 0.343 0.360 The data in Table 1 show that a lower coefficient of friction is obtained with increasing temperature when the base oil contains TOTM. Example 2 - Effect of TOTM on Brightness A test was performed in a 12 stage multiroller mill manufactured by Sundwig using a 304 stainless steel (Austinite) annealed sample 0.9 mm thick, 150 mm wide and 100 mm long. The work roll was stainless steel (SUJ-2) and 38 mm in diameter with a Vickers hardness of 950 and a roughness of 0.3 micron meter. The rolling speed ranged from 20 to 200 m/min. The properties of the oils tested were as follows: Properties Oil A Oil B Viscosity, mm²/s (cSt) at 40°C 10 10 Additive, wt. % 10 13-14 Primary TOTM Mono-Ester Booster - Phosphate(TCP) Saponification No. 30 40 The brightness was then determined for each sample and the results summarized below in Table 2 and shown in Figure 4. Rolling Speed (m/min) Brightness Oil A Oil B 20 979 1001 50 1027 991 100 1034 968 130 1035 980 200 1012 938 The data in Table 2 as illustrated in Figure 4 show that the brightness of the sample is improved when the oil contains TOTM. Thus, the use of TOTM results in a better surface finish than competitive additives. Example 3 - Effect of TNOTM on Brightness A test was performed in a 12 stage multi-roller mill manufactured by Kobelco using a 430 stainless steel (Ferrite) annealed sample 0.1 mm thick, 50 mm wide and 100 mm long. The work roll was stainless steel (SUJ-2) with a Vickers hardness of 98 and a roughness of 0.3 micrometres. The rolling speed was 100 m/min. Tests were performed at rolling reduction ranging from 40 to 65% using oils having the following properties: Properties Oil A Oil B Oil C Viscosity, mm²/s (cSt) at 40°C 8.0 8.0 8.0 Additive, wt. % 10 20 20 Primary TNOTM Mono-Ester Mono-Ester Booster - Phosphate(TCP) Fatty Acid Saponification No. 30 40 40 The results of these tests are shown in Figure 5. The data in Figure 5 show that the brightness is improved and a better surface finish is obtained when an oil containing TNOTM (without the addition of any brightness enhancers) is used.

Claims: Use of at least one tri-ester having the general formula: wherein R is an alkyl group having from 6 to 13 carbon atoms, as an additive in a metalworking lubricating oil composition for the purpose of improving the friction-reducing properties of the lubricating oil composition. Use of at least one tri-ester having the general formula: wherein R is an alkyl group having from 6 to 13 carbon atoms, as an additive in a metalworking lubricating oil composition for the purpose of imparting improved brightness to metal worked in the presence of the lubricating oil composition. The use as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tri-ester is tri-2-ethylhexyl-trimellitate, tri-normal-octyl-trimellitate or a mixture thereof. The use as claimed in any preceding claim wherein from 8 to 15 weight percent of the tri-ester additive is used in the lubricating oil composition. The use as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein from 10 to 13 weight percent of the tri-ester additive is used in the lubricating oil composition. The use as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lubricating oil composition comprises a major amount of a basestock having an aromatics content from 4 to 10 weight percent. The use as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lubricating composition comprises a major amount of a basestock having a viscosity from 8 to 20 cSt (8 to 20 mm²/s) at 40°C. A method of metalworking which comprises performing a metalworking operation on a metallic sample in the presence of lubricating oil composition containing a trimellitate ester compound as defined in any preceding claim.

Inventors: ENDO, TAKAMITSU, HATANO, TSUTOMU, HOSHINO, TETSURO, KAWASAKI, SOHEI
Applicants: EXXON RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C10M129
IPC codes: C10N40, C10M129, C10M169