How to make lubricating oil
Lubricating oil is an indispensable and important product in modern industry and is widely used in automobiles, machinery, aviation and other fields. Its main function is to reduce friction, reduce wear, cool and clean mechanical parts. So, how is lubricant made? This article will introduce the lubricant production process in detail, and combine the hot topics and hot content in the past 10 days to present you with a structured data report.
1. Basic components of lubricating oil

Lubricating oil mainly consists of two parts: base oil and additives. Base oil is the main component of lubricating oil, accounting for 70%-90%, while additives are used to enhance the performance of lubricating oil. The following are the main components of lubricating oil and their functions:
| Ingredients | function |
|---|---|
| base oil | Provides lubrication properties to reduce friction and wear |
| Anti-wear agent | Form a protective film on the metal surface to reduce wear |
| Antioxidants | Delay the aging process of lubricants |
| detergent | Prevents deposit formation and keeps mechanical parts clean |
| Viscosity index improver | Improve the viscosity behavior of lubricants at different temperatures |
2. Lubricating oil production process
The lubricating oil production process can be divided into the following steps:
1. Preparation of base oil
Base oils are usually derived from petroleum or synthetic materials. Petroleum-based base oils are obtained through the distillation and refining of crude oil, while synthetic base oils are prepared through chemical synthesis methods. Here’s a comparison of the two base oils:
| Type | Source | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum base oil | Crude oil distillation and refining | Low cost, mature technology | Performance is greatly affected by crude oil quality |
| Synthetic base oil | chemical synthesis | Stable performance, high temperature resistance | higher cost |
2. Addition of additives
After the base oil is prepared, different additives are added according to the purpose of the lubricant. The type and proportion of additives directly affects the performance of lubricating oil. The following are common additives and their functions:
| Additive type | Main functions |
|---|---|
| Anti-wear agent | Reduce wear between metal parts |
| Antioxidants | Extend lubricant life |
| detergent | Prevent sediment formation |
| Viscosity index improver | Improve the viscosity of lubricating oil at different temperatures |
3. Mixing and blending
Base oils and additives need to be mixed and formulated under specific conditions to ensure optimal lubricant performance. Temperature and stirring speed need to be strictly controlled during the mixing process to avoid decomposition or failure of the additives.
4. Quality inspection
Lubricants require strict quality testing after production to ensure that their performance meets standards. Common testing items include viscosity, flash point, pour point, acid value, etc. The following are the main items for lubricating oil quality testing:
| Test items | Testing standards |
|---|---|
| viscosity | ASTM D445 |
| flash point | ASTM D92 |
| pour point | ASTM D97 |
| Acid value | ASTM D664 |
3. The correlation between hot topics in the past 10 days and the lubricant industry
Recently, the lubricant industry has been closely related to many hot topics. The following are the hot topics in the past 10 days and their impact on the lubricant industry:
| hot topics | Impact on the lubricants industry |
|---|---|
| Popularization of new energy vehicles | Promote the research and development of special lubricants for electric vehicles |
| Tightening of environmental policies | Promote the development and application of bio-based lubricants |
| Global supply chains are strained | Affects the price and supply of lubricating oil raw materials |
| Advancement of Industry 4.0 | Promote the application of intelligent lubricant production equipment |
4. Future development trends of lubricants
With the advancement of science and technology and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, the lubricant industry is developing in the direction of high performance, environmental protection and intelligence. In the future, lubricants will pay more attention to energy conservation, emission reduction and sustainable development, and will also continue to innovate in formulas and production processes.
In short, the production of lubricants is a complex and precise process involving multiple links and strict quality control. By understanding how lubricants are made and how they relate to popular topics, we can better understand the value and future direction of this important industrial product.
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