ABSTRACT
The use of oils of animal or vegetable origin as lubricants in vehicles or machinery dates back almost to the birth of civilization [1]. However, min-eral oil-based products
produced commercially rapidly became the essential lubricants of the 20th century. Mineral oil-based lubricants were more effective in reducing the friction, wear, and tear at bearing contacts and hence enabled the machinery to operate smoothly even under severe operational conditions such as high pressures. However, the mineral oils have two main drawbacks:
1. They readily oxidize at temperatures above 100°C. 2. They have low flowability at temperatures below –20°C.
