Fraunhofer Institute IVV
High-performance biolubricants and additives
The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV is developing plant-based alternatives to mineral oil-based lubricants and lubricant additives and will be showcasing them at this year's Achema from June 10 to 14, 2024.
When developing high-performance, plant-based alternatives to mineral oil-based lubricants and lubricant additives, the Fraunhofer IVV focuses on the holistic and sustainable utilization of raw materials. For the production of biolubricants and additives, the institute therefore primarily uses industrial waste materials that were previously disposed of unused. Vegetable oils or side streams from vegetable oil refining as well as aqueous systems are used as base fluids for biolubricants. Enzymatic processes are used to improve the technofunctional properties of vegetable oil-based lubricants. This positively influences the lubricating effect, viscosity and solubility of additives through mild and targeted processing. For water-based biolubricants, the Fraunhofer IVV controls the technofunctional properties, such as thermal and physical stability and viscosity, through the use of specific biopolymers.
Secondary plant substances or plant proteins, which naturally have highly functional properties, are suitable as a basis for the production of bio-based additives. The Fraunhofer IVV already supports companies in the selection of raw materials and develops extraction processes that are specifically adapted to the raw material and the desired target application. In addition to characterizing the chemical and functional additive properties, the institute formulates the additives into the lubricant fluid and tests the interactions with other formulation components. The base fluid and the added additives are matched to each other for the respective area of application in such a way that high-performance bio-based alternatives to mineral oil-based lubricants are created.
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