Mineralölbasestocks

Mineralölbasestocks, often referred to as base oils, are the primary component of most lubricants. They are derived from crude oil through a series of refining processes. The refining steps aim to remove undesirable components such as sulfur, nitrogen, and aromatic compounds, while concentrating the desirable paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons. The quality of the base oil significantly influences the performance characteristics of the final lubricant, including viscosity, oxidative stability, and low-temperature properties.

Base oils are typically classified into groups based on their composition and the refining processes used to produce them. Group I base oils are solvent-refined and contain higher levels of impurities. Group II base oils are hydrotreated, resulting in lower sulfur content and better oxidative stability. Group III base oils undergo severe hydroprocessing, leading to very low sulfur content, high viscosity index, and excellent performance characteristics, often approaching those of synthetic base oils. Group IV base oils are synthetic polyalphaolefins (PAOs), and Group V encompasses all other base oils not falling into Groups I-IV, including esters, silicones, and polyglycols. The choice of base oil depends on the specific application requirements and desired performance of the lubricant.