Patent ID: 8730472

Claim:
A method for predicting future haze formation in dewaxed petroleum-derived lubricant base stocks, and products made there from, comprising the following steps: (1) preparing a test sample comprising a sample of neat base stock diluted with a solvent that facilitates the crystallization of wax components in the base stock, (2) subjecting the test sample to a temperature profile comprising a sub-ambient cooling and a subsequent heating step, (3) monitoring the crystallization and melting of wax in the test sample, including but not limited to the HDT, during the course of the temperature ramp, by measuring, directly or indirectly, changes in light scattering; and (4) using a comparison of the HDT determined by light scattering to a HDT reference point determined from historical test data to determine whether the base stock exhibits an acceptable or unacceptable potential for forming haze over the course of a lubricant manufacture, storage and use lifecycle.