Asteric™ Viscosity Modifiers
Advanced Polymer Technology for High VI Industrial
and Automotive Lubricants
Passenger vehicle manufacturers, heavy duty equipment • Asteric VMs exhibit better low-temperature
OEMs, along with lubricant end-users are demanding fluidity especially in driveline formulations and can
higher performing, longer lasting and more fuel efficient achieve lower -40°C Brookfield viscosity.
lubricants. The call for fluids that work better under severe • Greater formulating flexibility. Asteric VMs allow
conditions and can be used year-round in all climates has use of a higher starting base oil viscosity for similar fluid
influenced the trend to high Viscosity Index (VI) high per- performance. And they can reduce the need for low
formance fluids in industrial and automotive applications. viscosity trim stocks to achieve higher performance.
• Better long duration shear stability. Asteric VMs
In response to these OEM and lubricant end user resist viscosity loss in long duration shear testing which
demands, Lubrizol has developed breakthrough polymer is important in long drain or fill-for-life applications.
additive technology called Asteric™. Asteric technology • Better long-term protection for copper alloys.
allows control of the polymer architecture which isn’t Fluids containing Asteric VMs had lower Cu in drain oil
possible with conventional samples from long duration testing.
polymer additives. Asteric
polymers have radial or star • Better color stability. Fluids formulated with Asteric
architecture which allow VMs maintained a lighter color in long term oxidation
us to overcome some of testing.
the performance trade-offs • Enhanced wear protection. Fluids containing Asteric
seen with conventional linear VMs had improved wear results in bench and rig
Viscosity Modifiers (VM) testing.
polymers.
Blended to the Same Viscosity
at 100C in 4 cSt Oil
100
90
80
Shear Stability Index (SSI)
70
60
PIB
50
Asteric VM
The Advantages of Asteric VMs 40
PMA Technology
Asteric VMs offer formulating and performance advan- 30
tages over conventional PAMA VMs in high performance 20
fluids. These advantages are listed below. 10 PAO
• Asteric VMs provide much greater Viscosity Index 0
increase per unit treat rate and thickening. 125 145 165 185 205 225 245
Viscosity Index (VI)
• Asteric VMs can more easily achieve very high
finished fluid VI compared to conventional PAMA Figure 1
VMs of similar shear stability.
• Asteric VMs have greater thickening efficiency Figure 1 illustrates the VI increase advantage of Asteric
compared to conventional PAMA VMs with similar VM compared to other VM chemistry. High VI fluids are
shear stability - meaning less polymer additive is achieved more easily with Asteric VMs without sacrificing
needed to achieve the finished blend viscosity. shear stability.
Thickening Efficiency per SSI
on a Solid Poymer Basis
Asteric PMA Copper Corrosion
Conventional PMA Asteric
9
Thickening Efficiency at 100C
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0 New and after pump test fluids were evaluated for copper corrosion
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 in ASTM D130 test (140C, 12 hours). Asteric PMA end of test fluid
showed much better copper corrosion result compared to the
Shear Stability Index (20 hr. KRL)
Figure 2 conventional PMA fluid.
Figure 4 EOT refers to end of test fluids
The thickening efficiency advantage of Asteric VMs
compared to conventional PAMA VMs is seen in Figure 2.
Greater thickening translates to lower polymer treat levels
in the formulation. Asteric VMs demonstrated an advantage in protecting
The VI increase, thickening and low temperature fluidity copper alloys compared to conventional PAMA VMs.
advantages of Asteric VMs provide real benefits when Figure 4 shows a comparison of ASTM D130 copper
formulating driveline and hydraulic fluids. Asteric VMs: corrosion test results. The fluids containing Asteric VM
• Provide the formulator with the flexibility to get the retained excellent copper protection properties after
viscosity performance needed. extended duration testing. Fluids containing conventional
PAMA VMs showed worse copper protection after testing.
• Provide high-end performance of very high VI and very
low Brookfield viscosity comparable to a PAO based
formulation using all Group III oils. The importance of copper protection in hydraulic fluids
• Provide conventional fluid performance using a is seen in Figure 5.The fluid containing Asteric VM had
reduced treat level and higher starting base oil viscosity. lower copper in oil especially during the wet phase testing
compared to conventional PAMA VM. The benefit is longer
copper alloy component life as well as longer fluid life.
Asteric VMs had better viscosity retention compared to
conventional PAMA VMs in long duration testing as shown
in Figure 3.
Copper in Hydraulic Pump
Test Drain Oil Samples
Extended Shear Durability in Conventional PMA Asteric
Tapered Bearing Shear Test
ISO 46 175 VI Fluids 0.012
48.0
0.01
46.0
0.008
44.0
Percent
42.0 0.006
Visc (cSt) 40C
40.0 0.004
38.0
0.002
36.0 Asteric 87705
Asteric 87708 0
34.0 PAMA A 0 100 200 300
PAMA B
32.0 Dry Phase Wet Phase
PAMA C
30.0 Pump Test Time (Hours)
0 50 100 150 200 Figure 5
Hours Shear
Figure 3
Color Stability Comparison of Hydraulic Fluids Containing Asteric PMA (left)
and Conventional (right) PMA Viscosity Modifiers
Figure 6
As seen in Figure 6 fluids containing Asteric VM had The vanes and pump cam ring from the Asteric fluid are
better color stability compared to conventional PAMA VM. seen in Figure 8 and show little sign of scuffing wear.
Asteric fluids retained a lighter color after thermal stress.
The ability to protect hydraulic pumps from premature
wear and failure is critical for a high performance hydraulic Vane and Cam Ring from Denison T6H20C Test
fluid. In severe high pressure pump testing, the fluid con- Cam Ring and Vanes at 608 Hours—End of Test
taining Lubrizol 87705 Asteric VM had significantly lower
pump wear than fluids containing conventional PAMA
VMs as shown in Figure 7.
Denison HF-0 Test 600 Hr.
Combined Ring/Vane Wear
300
250
200
Wear, mg
150
100
50
0
Figure 8
87705 Asteric PMA-A PMA-B PMA-C
Figure 7
The ability of Asteric VMs to achieve very high finished
Wear Failure of Multigrade Fluid Containing fluid VI is important in formulating the next generation of
Conventional VM—608 Hour End of Test Photos high performance lubricants. Very high VI driveline fluids
of Cam Ring for example can provide greater fuel and energy efficiency,
better low temperature fluidity, while maintaining viscosity
and performance at high temperatures.
• High VI transmission and driveline fluids have lower
viscosity at cold start up and at moderate operating
temperatures which provides smoother operation,
better shifting performance and less running losses.
• High VI fluids also maintain viscosity at high tempera-
tures under severe operating conditions to protect
against wear and maintain optimal shifting behavior.
This multigrade fluid failed the Denison T6H20C pump test on wear.
Significant scuffing wear is visible especially at the oil inlet where oil This is illustrated in figure 10.
pressure is low while vane tip pressure is high. This is evidence of
protective fluid film breakdown Advantages of High VI Fluids
Figure 9 Better low temperature
efficiency & operation
Log (Viscosity)
High VI Fluid
Pump parts shown in figure 9 are from a fluid containing
conventional PAMA VM and show significant scuffing wear
Cold Normal
especially near the oil inlet port. The result of this wear Start-up Use
Better high temp.
would eventually be loss of pump output leading to early efficiency & durability
failure. Higher Viscosity Fluid
Low Viscosity Fluid
Advantages of High VI Fluids -20—40°C 40—80°C 100°C Extreme Service
High VI fluids offer multiple benefits to the lubricant user: Fluid Temperature
• Maintains a more consistent viscosity as temperature Figure 10
changes
• Better low temperature fluidity for improved cold
weather performance and efficiency The performance and formulating advantages that have
resulted from Asteric VM technology are significant.
• Maintains viscosity at high temperatures to protect Lubrizol’s breakthrough polymer additive technology
critical components was developed in response to the shift to High VI fluids
• Greater mechanical and volumetric efficiency for for industrial and automotive applications. Our customer
improved energy efficiency partnerships and understanding of the marketplace helps
• Maintains transmission shift feel and behavior at all Lubrizol to help our customers stay in step with changing
temperatures technology and market demands.
For more information on Asteric VMs, email us at
[email protected] With you every step of the way.
The Lubrizol Corporation Lubrizol Limited Lubrizol Korea
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Telephone: 440.943.4200 Derbyshire DE56 4AN UK Mapo-Ku, Seoul, 121-717, Korea
Telephone: +44 1332 842 211 Telephone: +82 2 3275 0292
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