Crude oil – the natural origin of all lubricants
Crude oil, also known as petroleum, is a naturally occurring, liquid mixture of hydrocarbons formed deep in the earth’s crust. It forms the basis for a large number of industrial products – including fuels, plastics, chemicals and, above all, lubricants. Through various refinery processes, crude oil is separated into individual fractions and further processed into high-quality base oils.
What role does crude oil play in lubricant production?
In lubricant technology, crude oil is the primary source of mineral and semi-synthetic base oils. Depending on its composition, a distinction is made between paraffinic, naphthenic or aromatic crude oils – each with different properties for further processing.
In modern refineries, crude oil is processed by distillation, cracking, dewaxing and hydro-refining into high-performance base oils, which are also used in BASINOL lubricants.
How is crude oil processed into lubricant base oils?
The first step is distillation, in which crude oil is separated into fractions such as gases, gasoline, kerosene, diesel and lubricating oil fractions. The lube oil fraction is then refined – through processes such as hydrocracking, dewaxing and hydrofinishing. The result is purified base oils that are processed with additives into engine oils, gear oils or industrial oils.
What types of crude oil are there – and what does this mean for lubricants?
A distinction is made between
– Paraffinic crude oil: high wax content, good for stable viscosity and oxidation resistance
– Naphthenic crude oil: low pour point, good for low-temperature behavior, but lower oxidation stability
– Aromatic crude oil: rich in ring-shaped molecules, is usually further processed or reduced
The choice of crude oil has a significant influence on the properties of the resulting lubricants.
Is crude oil still up to date in lubricant production?
Despite alternative base oil sources such as bio-based substances or fully synthetic components (PAO, esters), crude oil remains the most important raw material source for lubricants – especially in the industrial sector, commercial vehicle sector and for classic mineral oils. Thanks to modern refining technologies such as hydrocracking, crude oil bases can now be processed in such a way that they can compete with synthetic solutions in many areas.
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