ABSTRACT
Considerable attention has been focused on synthetic lubricants since their introduction into the retail market of synthetic engine oils in the 1970s. The use of synthetic lubricants in aviation and industrial applications also extends back many years. Past interest in synthetic lubricants was primarily attributed to their ability to provide equipment protection advantages under extreme operating conditions. These conditions included very low or very high temperatures and their ability to resist oxidation to a much greater degree than mineral oils. More recent interest still focuses on these performance capabilities, but also on how synthetic lubricants can save money and minimize the impact on the environment.
