Hydraulic Oil Description

Hydraulic Fluids
Hydraulic fluids are a large group of liquids made of many kinds of chemicals. They are used in
automobile automatic transmissions, brakes, and power steering; forklift trucks; tractors;
bulldozers; industrial machinery; and aircraft. The three most common types of hydraulic fluids
are mineral oil, organophosphate ester, and polyalphaolefin1. Others are based on glycol
esters and ethers, castor oil, or silicone. Some of the trade names for hydraulic fluids include
Durad, Fyrquel, Skydrol, Houghton-Safe, Pydraul, Reofos, Reolube, Hydraunycoil,
and Quintolubric.
Brake fluid is a subtype of hydraulic fluid with high boiling point and low freezing point.
Hydraulic systems, like the ones mentioned above, will work efficiently if the hydraulic fluid used
has low compressibility.
Some hydraulic fluids have a bland, oily smell and others have no smell; some will burn and some
will not burn. Certain hydraulic fluids are produced from crude oil and others are manufactured by
many companies.
Hydraulic fluids can contain a wide range of various chemical compounds; oils, butanol, esters
(e.g. phthalates, like DEHP, and adipates, like bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate), polyalkylene
glycols (PAG), phosphate esters (e.g. tributylphosphate), silicones, alkylated aromatic
hydrocarbons, polyalphaolefins (PAO) (e.g. polyisobutenes), corrosion inhibitors, etc.
1

A polyolefin is a polymer produced from a simple olefin, or alkene as a monomer. For example, polyethylene is the
polyolefin produced by polymerizing the olefin ethylene. An equivalent term is polyalkene; both terms are mostly
archaic, though polyolefin is still used in the petrochemical industry. Polypropylene is another common polyolefin which
is made from propylene.
A more specific type of olefin is a poly-alpha-olefin (or poly--olefin, sometimes abbreviated as PAO), a polymer made
by polymerizing an alpha-olefin. An alpha-olefin (or -olefin) is an alkene where the carbon-carbon double bond starts
at the -carbon atom, i. e. the double bond is between the #1 and #2 carbons in the molecule. Common alpha-olefins
used as co-monomers to give a polymer alkyl branching groups are similar to 1-hexene or may be longer (see
chemical structure below).

1-

hexene, an example of an alpha-olefin

Many poly-alpha-olefins have flexible alkyl branching groups on every other carbon of their polymer backbone chain.
These alkyl groups, which can shape themselves in numerous conformations, make it very difficult for the polymer
molecules to line themselves up side-by-side in an orderly way. Therefore, many poly-alpha-olefins do not crystallize or
solidify easily and are able to remain oily, viscous liquids even at lower temperatures. Low molecular weight polyalpha-olefins are useful as synthetic lubricants such as synthetic motor oils for vehicles used in a wide temperature
range.
Even polyethylenes copolymerized with a small amount of alpha-olefins (such as 1-hexene, 1-octene, or longer) are
more flexible than simple straight chain high density polyethylene, which has no branching. The methyl branch groups
on a polypropylene polymer are not long enough to make typical commercial polypropylene more flexible than
polyethylene

It was reported that 3,800 patients of the Duke University Health System in Durham and
Raleigh were operated on in late 2004 with instruments that were washed in PAG (polyalkylene
glycol) hydraulic fluid 32-AW instead of detergent. This occurred after an elevator company
drained hydraulic fluid into empty Mon-Klenz detergent barrels, and the detergent supplier
redistributed them as detergent; both substances are similar in appearance, similar to maple
syrup. The problem was not fixed for weeks in spite of the fact that staff members complained that
the tools were "slick"; however a small amount of lubricant is commonly applied to them, as a
corrosion protection and to protect the instruments from locking up, therefore it took some time to
figure out the oiliness is beyond normal level. The hospital claims that there are no risks associated
with the mix-up however, patients have reported lingering health concerns. [1]
Because industrial hydraulic systems operate at thousands of PSI and temperatures reaching
several hundred degrees fahreneheit, severe injuries and death can result from component failures
and care must always be taken when performing maintenance on hydraulics
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil or liquid petrolatum2 is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline. It
is a chemically inert, transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes and cyclic paraffins,
related to white petrolatum. Mineral oil is a substance of relatively low value, and it is produced in
very large quantities. Mineral oil is available in light and heavy grades, and can often be found in
drug stores.
Applications
Refined mineral oil is used as transformer oil. Mineral oil is used to store and transport alkali
metals. The oil prevents the metals from reacting with atmospheric moisture.
Personal care:
Mineral oil is sometimes taken orally as a laxative. It lubricates feces and intestinal mucous
membranes, and limits the amount of water removed from feces. Typically, mineral oil is effective
within six hours. While it has been reported that mineral oil may be absorbed when emulsified,
most information shows that it passes harmlessly through the gastrointestinal system.
Mineral oil with added fragrance is marketed as 'baby oil' in the US and UK.
Used as an ingredient in baby lotions, cold creams, ointments and other pharmaceuticals and lowgrade cosmetics.
Can also be used on eyelashes to prevent brittleness and/or breaking.
Used in small quantities (2-3 drops daily) to clean ears. Over a couple of weeks, the mineral oil
softens dried or hardened earwax so that a gentle flush of water can remove it. In the case of a
damaged or perforated eardrum, however, mineral oil should not be used, as oil in the middle ear
can lead to ear infections.
Lubrication
Fuel, for items such as oil lamps.
2

Petrolatum is a semisolid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. In the United States, Petrolatum may be
used as an active ingredient in OTC drug products. When used as an active drug ingredient, the established name is
Petrolatum. Petrolatum is commonly used in cosmetic formulations

Electric mineral-oil-filled space heaters

Coolant
Automotive and aviation brake fluid that does not absorb water molecules by osmosis
Low viscosity mineral oil is sold as a preservative for wooden cutting boards and utensils.
A coating of mineral oil protects metal surfaces from moisture and oxidation.
Food-preparation butcher block surfaces are often conditioned periodically with mineral oil.
Light mineral oil is used in textile industries and used as a jute batching oil.
Mineral oil is used to darken soapstone countertops for aesthetic purposes.
It works (albeit poorly) as a release agent for molds, especially in fiberglass casting.
It is used as a release agent for baking pans and trays.
It is occasionally used in the food industry (particularly for candy). Some studies suggest that
prolonged use might be unhealthy because of low accumulation levels in organs. It has been
discouraged for use in children's foods, though it is still occasionally found in candies in China and
Canada.
Used as a cleaner and solvent for inks in fine art printmaking as well as in oil painting, though
turpentine is more often used.
It can be used as a solvent for solid samples during Infrared spectroscopy.
Petrobras is mixing mineral oil and vegetable oil to produce a new bio-diesel known as H-Bio,
which may greatly increase its market value
Other Names

adepsine oil
alboline
baby oil
bayol 55
Cable oil
bayol f
blandlube
blandol white mineral oil
carnea 21
clearteck
crystol 325
crystosol
Diala-X, AX
drakeol
Electrical Insulating Oil
Ervol
filtrawhite
fonoline

A polyolefin is a polymer produced from a simple olefin, or alkene as a monomer. For

example, polyethylene is the polyolefin produced by polymerizing the olefin ethylene. An

equivalent term is polyalkene; both terms are mostly archaic, though polyolefin is still
used in the petrochemical industry. Polypropylene is another common polyolefin which is
made from propylene.
A more specific type of olefin is a poly-alpha-olefin (or poly--olefin, sometimes
abbreviated as PAO), a polymer made by polymerizing an alpha-olefin. An alpha-olefin
(or -olefin) is an alkene where the carbon-carbon double bond starts at the -carbon
atom, i. e. the double bond is between the #1 and #2 carbons in the molecule. Common
alpha-olefins used as co-monomers to give a polymer alkyl branching groups are similar
to 1-hexene or may be longer (see chemical structure below).

1-hexene, an example of an alpha-olefin

Many poly-alpha-olefins have flexible alkyl branching groups on every other carbon of
their polymer backbone chain. These alkyl groups, which can shape themselves in
numerous conformations, make it very difficult for the polymer molecules to line
themselves up side-by-side in an orderly way. Therefore, many poly-alpha-olefins do not
crystallize or solidify easily and are able to remain oily, viscous liquids even at lower
temperatures. Low molecular weight poly-alpha-olefins are useful as synthetic lubricants
such as synthetic motor oils for vehicles used in a wide temperature range.
Even polyethylenes copolymerized with a small amount of alpha-olefins (such as 1hexene, 1-octene, or longer) are more flexible than simple straight chain high density
polyethylene, which has no branching. The methyl branch groups on a polypropylene
polymer are not long enough to make typical commercial polypropylene more flexible
than polyethylene