Hydraulic Oil: Basic Information and Types

In most industrial machines, construction machines, aircraft, automotive and marine applications, there is the use of hydraulic systems. Hydraulics refer to the mechanism of using fluid to generate power or force to do a desired task by a machine or system. No hydraulic system can operate without using hydraulic oil. Hydraulic oil is the fluid used to provide power in hydraulic systems.

Hydraulic oil is basically made of a basic oil which is combined with other additives like anti-wear additives, anti-oxidants, detergents, anti-foaming agents etc.).

There are different types of hydraulic oils which we are discussing below:

• Mineral hydraulic oil: This is basically petroleum or mineral based oil. This oil is of low cost and easily available. This is one of the commonly used oil as it serves all almost all the properties of hydraulic oil. The disadvantages are low fire resistance and low biodegradability.
• Phosphate ester hydraulic oil: This type of oil is basically phosphate ester based, which is formed by the reaction of two substance: phosphoric acid and aromatic alcohols. This oil has properties like very good fire resistance. Its drawbacks are low compatible with adhesives, paints, polymers and it is also toxic.
• Polyol ester oil: This is another synthetic hydraulic oil formed by fatty acids and synthesized alcohols reactions. This oil has good lubrication properties and is fire resistant. It is expensive compared to other oils but very environment friendly.
• Water glycol oil: This oil consists of 35-60% of water in form of solution and additives. It is highly fire resistance, biodegradable and non-toxic. The basic drawback is that there is the damage of hydraulic oil properties with water evaporation.
• Vegetable hydraulic oil: This hydraulic fluid is made mainly of Canola oil. It is similar to polyol esters in chemical structure. It has good lubrication properties, non-toxic and biodegradable. Its main drawback is its low oxidation resistance.

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