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Advantages of Zincfree Hydraulic Oils
Noria Corporation
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Tags: hydraulics
"What are the advantages of using zincfree
hydraulic oil? Some hydraulic oils don't contain
zinc, so what would be the reason to make
them zincfree?"
Zinc has been a key additive constituent in
hydraulic oils, as well as the majority of oil
types, for decades. It primarily is used as an
antiwear agent or as an antioxidant.
These zincbased additives are sacrificial,
which means they are used up and depleted as
they do their job. However, it's not simply the metal zinc added to the oil that performs this
function. There is a chemical reaction between zinc oxides and an organic thiophosphoric
acid that produces an effective resultant known as zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP).
Zincbased hydraulic oil is widely used for a number of reasons. Under boundary conditions,
a sacrificial layer of antiwear additive (typically zincbased) is established on the load
bearing surface of machine components to help protect against the results of friction. Anti
wear additives are most effective in moderate to severe load applications, while oiliness
agents are utilized in mild conditions. Extremepressure (EP) additives are best in severe
applications.
ZDDP (as well as other additive compounds) use phenolic and aminic compounds to
neutralize free radicals and disengage the oxidation reactions. This in turn will prevent any
harmful acidic byproducts from corroding equipment parts and changing the base oil's
lubricating capability.
Another hidden advantage of ZDDP is that it has the capacity to perform several key
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In addition, these additives not only are nonbiodegradable, but research has indicated that
they are aquatically toxic.
The variety of ZDDP compounds also differ in their effects on hydrolysis and thermal
degradation. Achieving highquality levels in both of these categories can be a challenge.
Additive alternatives to zinc have the potential of obtaining these benefits separately.
Keep in mind that zincbased hydraulic oils have historically performed well and should
continue to do so. If no underlying reason exists for utilizing a zincfree oil, such as the
metallurgy of a component or the environmental/operating factors, then there is a strong
case to use zincbased additives like ZDDP. The benefits typically outweigh the risks.
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