Lubricating oils based on chemically modified vegetable oils

Vegetable oils are a type of easily biodegradable ester‐type lubricant derived from renewable resources. Their importance, from the environmental view‐point, is evident, especially in loss lubrication, hydraulic systems with increased risk of damage, etc. They are characterised by good lubricity and good anticorrosion and temprature‐viscosity properties. Some disadvantages, particularly low thermal oxidation stability and poor cold flow behaviour, can be mitigated by structural modifications. In this study, possible substitutions of the alcohal part of triacylglycerols as well as changes in acyl unsaturated chains are discussed. Attention is paid particularly to the epoxidising of double bonds in acyls resulting in the formation of oxirane rings. By opening these in the presence of hydrogen donors, it is possible to obtain new derivatives and polyfunctional compounds that are acceptable as environmentally friendly lubricants.