Synthesis and testing of ester lubricants for use as R-134a refrigerants

✍ Scribed by Gryglewicz, S. ;Beran, E.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 430 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0265-6582
• DOI: 10.1002/jsl.3000170104

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to produce inexpensive synthetic lubricants, compatible with R‐134a, using waste carboxylic acids as the starting point. After initial synthesisation of some candidate materials, the suitability of the synthesised products was first evaluated by their chemical and physical properties including thermostability. Two ester bases were selected for further testing — a pentaerythritol esterified with monocarboxylic acids, and a polyalkyleneglycol similarly esterified with monocarboxylic acids C~4~—C~6~. The oil bases selected were tested for their corrosion effect on metals. The pentaerythritol ester offered the most advantageous properties in these tests. The results of the laboratory tests have been corroborated by trials conducted on real refrigerating compressor systems. In addition, the synthesis of base oils by methyl ester transesterification in the presence of basic catalysts has been examined.