Optimization the Ratio of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) and Mixed Metal Soap (Al-Ca) in the Manufacture of Biodegradable Solid Lubricants

Increased development in the industrial and transportation sectors today significantly increases the use of lubricants. This means that a significant amount of lubrication is needed to meet consumption needs in the industrial and transportation sectors. Palm Fatty Acid Destillate (PFAD) has a high enough potential to be used as a raw material for making oleochemical products, one of which is solid lubricant. This is caused by the composition of fatty acids contained in PFAD not much different from the composition of fatty acids found in palm oil. This study aims to determine the formulation of solid lubricants (grease) from PFAD and mixture metal soap (Al-Ca) as thickener which has characteristics close to SNI solid lubricants and know the quality of solid lubricants produced. The method used in the manufacture of solid grease (grease) consists of two stages. The first stage is the process of making mixed metal soap (Al-Ca) by mixing PFAD and Al(OH)3 Ca(OH)2 and analyzing the mixed metal soap. The second stage is the manufacture of solid lubricants (grease) from mixed metal soap (Al-Ca) and PFAD as well as analyzing the resulting product. Based on the research that has been done, the optimum solid lubricant obtained according to SNI standards is in the composition of A1: B1, A1 is the ratio of Al (OH)3 : Ca(OH)2 = 90% : 10% and B1 is the ratio of metal soap: PFAD = 10 % : 90%, so the density is 0.95 gr / ml and the penetration value is 194 (25C), the melting point is 97C and NLGI 4.