Tribological Study of Functional Fluids Based on Castor Oil

Vegetable oil-based lubricants are environment-friendly options as against conventional lubricants. This paper discusses the synthesis as well as characterisation of esters from ricinoleic acid and sebacic acid whose main source is castor oil. Physicochemical properties, tribological study as well as oxidation study have been carried out for the esters. With the increase in ester chain length, extreme pressure properties, viscosity index and pour point has improved, whereas oxidation stability had a detrimental effect. The coefficient of friction for commercial base stocks was better than any of the studied esters.