ABSTRACT
Further development in versatility and quality of Polyalphaolefins (PAOs) continues to improve this class of synthetic base fluids. In addition to synthetic esters, PAOs are the most commonly used synthetic base fluids in lubricants. PAOs are true synthetics since they are prepared under carefully controlled conditions from essentially pure alphaolefins, which are themselves synthesized. PAOs have been used in lubricants since the early 1950s and new versions are being introduced to provide lubricant formulators “mid-vis” properties, between the conventional 2 to 10 cSt fluids and the high-viscosity PAOs.
