A naphthenic oil of hydrogenated coal tar distil- late as a lubricant with low solidification pressure

Abstract

A new type of lubricant, TN, composed mainly of condensed polycyclic naphthenic hydrocarbon rings, was developed from coal tar through a complete hydrogenation process. This oil is characterised by a high pressure-viscosity coefficient and low solidification pressure. The tribological characteristics of this new oil were investigated in an elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime under sliding, rolling/sliding, and rolling contact conditions. The results for the TN oil were compared with those of several oils of different molecular structures: polyalphaolefin of paraffinic hydrocarbon, and naphthenic and paraffinic petroleum oils. It was found that the TN oil was superior to the other oils tested in its ability to form thick oil films, to reduce wear, to increase the coefficient of traction, and to prolong fatigue life.