SYNTHETIC MOTOROIL
Synthetic motor oils are made of a synthesized hydrocarbon base oil of hydrogenated polydecene, decanoic acid esters, zinc alkyl dithiophos- phate, and synthetic poly alpha olefins. Most synthetic oils also contain additives, detergents, and corrosion inhibitors as well as viscosity modifiers. It is believed that the first synthesized polymeric hydrocarbons were synthesized in 1877, yet it was not until 1929 that the commercial development of synthetic lubricants was undertaken. Because of the availability of commercial petroleum-based lubricants, these synthetic lubricants were ultimately unsuccessful. The advent of commercial jet travel spurred the development of the first commercially successful synthetic lubricant, Mobil 1, in 1975. This lubricant had superior resistance to thermal breakdown and lower friction properties than petroleum-based products.
Synthetic oils are used in engines to lubricate moving parts and protect them from wear and high temperatures. Detergents are added to synthetic formulations to reduce the deposits of contaminants on vital engine components, and corrosion inhibitors are added to reduce the effect of rust from the water produced in the combustion process.
Synthetic oils are somewhat safer than petroleum-based lubricants and do not cause any significant effects to the eyes, skin, or respiratory tract. Continuous exposure has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Brief or intermittent contact is not expected to pose any significant health problems in humans. Synthetic oils are related to petroleum-based lubricants with one significant difference. Whereas petroleum lubricants contain a variety of carbon chain lengths, synthetic lubricants contain specific compounds and polymers that help them adhere to the moving metal parts to combat friction. Other synthetic oils are used as hydraulic fluids, brake fluids, and antifreeze in automobiles.
WD-40
WD-40 is a proprietary formula composed of aliphatic petroleum distillates, petroleum base oil, carbon dioxide, and other nonhazardous ingredients. In 1953, the Rocket Chemical Company set out to create a line of rust prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry. On the fortieth attempt, they succeeded in formulating an effective water-displacing/lubricating formula, which they called WD-40. This product worked so well that it was used to protect the outer skin of the Atlas Missile from oxidation. It worked so well that employees of Rocket Chemical would sneak out cans of the formula for use in their own homes. The company produced a consumer version of the product in 1958, and since then people have used WD-40 on virtually everything.
WD-40 works by displacing moisture and forms a thin protective film on metal surfaces that protects the surface from oxidation and corrosion. It contains 60 to 70 percent aliphatic petroleum distillates, 15 to 25 per- cent petroleum base oil, and 2 to 3 percent carbon dioxide as a propellant. The volatile aliphatic hydrocarbons contained in the formula give WD-40 its characteristic odor and allow the formula to penetrate through rusted metal pieces. WD-40 has a much lower viscosity than standard light machine oils and is thought to contain tertiary alkyl amines, which have remarkably low surface tensions, providing low-temperature lubrication. Also important is the interfacial tension between WD-40 and water, because this is a measure of how fast the product will displace water out of the nooks and crannies of a rusty screw thread. This displacement is achieved with surfactants. Long-chain alcohols or quaternary ammonium salts may be some of the secret ingredients that help displace water and provide a temporary protective film to prevent corrosion.
WD-40 may cause headache or dizziness if inhaled and may cause dry- ing or irritation of the skin upon contact. Eye contact and ingestion are especially dangerous and may lead to vomiting, severe irritation, and chemical pneumonitis if entering the lungs. As such, this product should only be used in well-ventilated areas with proper protective equipment such as gloves and eye protection. The petroleum base of WD-40 is essentially a narrow-boiling kerosene fraction and has a flash point of less than fifty degrees centigrade. It should never be used in the vicinity of open flames and should be considered extremely flammable.
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