Pohjaöljyjä

Pohjaöljyjä is a Finnish term that translates to "base oils" in English. In the context of lubricants and industrial applications, base oils are the fundamental components that form the bulk of a finished lubricant product, such as engine oil, gear oil, or hydraulic fluid. They are typically refined from crude oil or produced synthetically.

The primary function of a base oil is to provide lubrication, reduce friction, and dissipate heat. The choice of base oil significantly impacts the performance characteristics of the final lubricant, including its viscosity, thermal stability, oxidative stability, and low-temperature properties. Different types of base oils exist, categorized into groups based on their refining process and chemical composition. Group I, II, and III base oils are generally derived from petroleum refining, with increasing levels of refinement leading to better performance. Group IV base oils are fully synthetic polyalphaolefins (PAOs), and Group V encompasses all other synthetic base oils, such as esters, silicones, and polyalkylene glycols (PAGs).

The selection of a specific base oil depends on the intended application and the operating conditions. For instance, high-performance engine oils or lubricants used in extreme temperatures often utilize synthetic base oils due to their superior properties. Additives are then blended into the base oil to enhance its performance further, conferring specific characteristics like detergency, dispersancy, anti-wear properties, and corrosion inhibition. Therefore, pohjaöljyjä are the essential foundation upon which all lubricant formulations are built.