Kinetic Study of the Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Squalane (C₃₀H₆₂) Modelling the Base Oil of Engine Lubricants

On the basis of ongoing research conducted on the clarification of processes responsible for lubricant degradation in the environment of piston grooves in EGR diesel engines, an experimental investigation was aimed to develop a kinetic model which can be used for the prediction of lubricant oxidative degradation correlated to endurance test conducted on engines. Knowing that base oils are a complex blend of paraffins and naphtenes with a wide range of sizes and structures, their chemistry analysis during the oxidation process can be highly convoluted. In the present work, investigations were carried out with the squalane (C₃₀H₆₂) chosen for its physical and chemical similarities with the lubricant base oils used during the investigations. Thermo-oxidative degradation of this hydrocarbon was conducted at atmospheric pressure in a tubular furnace, while varying temperature and duration of the tests in order to establish an oxidation reaction rate law. The same experimental procedures was applied to squalane doped with two different phenolic antioxidants usually present in engine oil composition: 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), and octadecyl-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (OBHP). Thus, the effect of both antioxidants on the oxidation rate law was investigated. Data analysis of the oxidized samples (FTIR spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry GC/MS) allowed to rationalize the thermo-oxidative degradation of squalane. The resulting kinetic modelling provides a practical analytical tool to follow the thermal degradation processes, which can be used for prediction of base oil hydrocarbon ageing. If experiments confirmed the role of phenolic additives as an affective agent to lower oxidation rates, the main results lay in the observation of a threshold temperature where a reversed activity of these additives was observed.