Application of Plant Oils as Ecologically Friendly Hydraulic Fluids

Abstract

This paper presents the results of physicochemical and tribological tests of vegetable oils obtained by the supercritical fluid extraction method from berry seeds. The research was conducted by using these oils as the raw material for the biodegradable hydraulic working fluids. The oils were assessed in terms of kinematic viscosity, anti-wear properties, resistance to oxidation and corrosive effects to copper and the pour point. The best results were achieved in the case of the blackcurrant seed oil. In order to confirm the practical possibility of using vegetable oils as working fluids for hydraulic couplings, experimental tests of the hydrodynamic clutch filled with blackcurrant seed oil were carried out. Based on the obtained research results, it was found that oils from berry plant seeds produced by supercritical extraction could be used in the future as potential working fluids for hydraulic systems.

Keywords

• berry plant seed oils
• supercritical extraction
• biodegradable working fluids
• hydraulic clutches
• hydrodynamic clutches