SPE Technology

With Secondary Polyol Ester^® technology, VBASE base oils provide exceptional hydrolytic stability, oxidation stability, and built-in detergency to enable the formulation of high-performance lubricants.

Available in ISO VG 32-460, all VBASE® base oils are USDA BioPreferred, EU Ecolabel LuSC-list, and certified NSF HX-1.

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VBASE Secondary Polyol Ester^® (SPE^®) base oils allow formulators to develop a new generation of innovative environmentally acceptable lubricants. The technology is an evolution over the well-established primary polyol esters (neo-polyol esters) which are commonly used in refrigeration, aviation, and compressor lubricants for their excellent oxidative stability and low temperature properties. However, a limiting feature of conventional primary polyol esters is their susceptibility to hydrolysis in equipment where water ingress is possible.

Novel VBASE oils are termed Secondary Polyol Ester^® base oils because the esterification occurs on a secondary hydroxyl of a polyol. The inclusion of secondary ester bonds in SPE^® oils slows hydrolysis compared to primary ester bonds. There are a vast array of polyol structures and by carefully selecting the choice of polyol and fatty acid (and their mixtures), it is possible to design a wide range of SPE^® base oils with different architectures and thereby control their functional, tribological and environmental performance.

Ester bonding in a primary polyol ester structure

Ester bonding in a Secondary Polyol Ester® structure

This has led to a new class of hybrid synthetic base oils offering the outstanding functional performance of PAGs and excellent environmental properties of esters.

Performance

The unique structure of VBASE SPE base oils enables outstanding physical properties, exceptional functional performance, and excellent environmental attributes.

Designed for Efficiency and Sustainability
High VI and Excellent Low Temperature Properties

VBASE base oils exhibit excellent low temperature properties and high viscosity indices making them a good choice for formulating lubricants for all season performance. VBASE base oil's viscosity indices are typically much higher than hydrocarbon base oils and other synthetic esters of the same viscosity grade. This suggests they would be ideal for use in energy efficient lubricants when switching to a lower ISO-viscosity grade lubricant is practical. Energy efficiency gains can be further boosted due to their excellent low traction values under mixed-EHD conditions, thereby minimizing friction and energy losses in equipment and improving fuel consumption.

Enhanced Fluid Lifetime and Reliability
Excellent Thermo-Oxidative Stability, Varnish Resistance, and Hydrolytic Stability

With a novel molecular structure, VBASE® saturated base oils provide excellent thermo-oxidative and hydrolytic stability in formulated lubricants. Unlike hydrocarbon oils which can degrade under high thermal stresses to form deposits and varnish, VBASE base oils have a significantly lower propensity to form deposits due to their oxygen-rich polar structure which helps solubilize any polar oxidation by-products, thereby keeping the lubricant and equipment clean and varnish free.

Learn more here: Oxidative Stability | Low Deposits (vbaseoil.com)

Superior Compatibility
Broad Compatibility with Fluids, Coatings, and Seals

Lubricants formulated with VBASE^® base oils are compatible with most conventional lubricants formulated with API Group I-IV hydrocarbon oils and Group V esters and PAGs. This fluid compatibility allows for a seamless change over in equipment from aged oils to lubricants with VBASE technology. VBASE lubricants show good seal and paint compatibility (John Deere Fluid Resistance Testing and Caterpillar Fluid Immersion Resistance Testing).

Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EAL)
Bio-based, Biodegradable, Non-Toxic

Designed for performance first, all VBASE^® products are an excellent choice for formulating environmentally acceptable lubricants and suitable for use in many environmentally sensitive areas such as hydropower plants, agricultural, forestry, and marine environments. VBASE base oils have a high inclusion of renewable carbon (>50%), are biodegradable (>80% by OECD 301B), non-toxic, and do not bioaccumulate.

Stable Production and Supply Capability
Validated Raw Material Supplies and Production Capabilities for Bulk Supply

Fire Resistance
Enhanced Safety Without Compromising Performance

VBASE unsaturated ester base oils offer high fire points making them an ideal choice for formulating fire resistant fluids. Moreover, they have similar VI values and pour points to classical polyol oleates (e.g., TMP trioleate) that are used widely in applications such as fire-resistant hydraulic fluids. However, because of their superior oxidation and hydrolytic stability, they are recommended as an alternative when longer life and more stability is needed in a fire-resistant fluid.

VBASE Base Oils | Fire Resistance | Hydraulic Fluids | FRF (vbaseoil.com)

VBASE SPE® Base Oil Data

VBASE 32-68

VBASE 100CS-460CS

Data

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Applications

VBASE Secondary Polyol Ester^® base oils offer exceptional hydrolytic and oxidative stability, outstanding compatibility, and in-built detergency to enable the formulation of your next high-performance lubricant.

HYDRAULIC OILS

Varnish Control
Shear Stability

CHAIN OILS

High Temperature Stability
Cleanliness, HX-1

FIRE RESISTANT FLUIDS

Fire Resistance
Hydrolytic Stability

FOOD GRADE LUBRICANTS

Food Safety, HX-1
Oxidation Stability

AIR COMPRESSORS

Varnish Control
Oxidative Stability

GEAR OILS

Tooth gear wheel with oil splashes, freeze motion, lubrication concept

High Temperature Stability
Friction Control and Efficiency

GREASES

Close up of lubricant grease in hand Mechanic for putting into ball bearing in the industrial factory, Mechanic Industrial Concept

High Temperature Stability
Friction Control

TURBINE OILS

Draining water from the hydroelectric dam.

Varnish Control
Hydrolytic Stability

REFRIGERATION OILS

industrial compressor refrigeration station at manufacturing fac

Refrigerant Compatibility
High Temperature Stability

MARINE OILS

Hydrolytic Stability
Oxidation Stability

TWO STROKE OILS

Wear Performance
Cleanliness

METAL WORKING FLUIDS

The CNC milling machine cutting the mold parts with oil coolant method. The mold and die manufacturing process by CNC machining center.

Hydrolytic Stability
Friction Control

Certifications

VBASE^®SPE^® Base Oils Enable Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants

VBASE^® base oils are biobased (inclusion of renewable carbon >50%), readily biodegradable (>80% by OECD 301B), non-toxic (OECD 201, OECD 202, OECD 203, OECD 236), and non-bioaccumulating (OECD 117). VBASE base oils are also certified NSF HX-1 and thus suitable for formulation of H1 lubricants for use in and around food processing areas. All VBASE base oils are included on the European Ecolabel LuSC-List.