GB1573438A - Method of producing plastic and liquid lubricants - Google Patents

Description

(54) METHOD OF PRODUCING PLASTIC AND LIQUID LUBRICANTS (71) We, ROSTOVSKY OPYTNY NEFTEMASLOZAVOD of ulitsa Siversa, 8 Rostov-na-Donu, 40, and POLTAVSKY NAUCHNO ISSLEDOVATELSKY I KONSTRUK TORSKO-TEKHNOLOGICHESKY INSTITUT EMALIROVANNOGO KHIMICHESKOGO OBORUDOVANIA "NIIEMALKHIMMASH" of ulitsa Frunze, I53, Poltava, both Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, both Corporations organised and existing under the laws of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a method of producing plastic and liquid lubricants which are widely used in transport, machine engineering, instrument making, and metal working for reducing the wear and enhancing the service life of for example engines, for reducing friction, for corrosion-protective coatings, and for intensifying the processes of metal working.

The main types of lubricants used for the above purposes are plastic (consistent) and liquid lubricants obtained by dispersing various types of thickeners, fillers, and additives in base liquids which are mineral (petroleum) or synthetic oils.

Plastic lubricants fall into the following main types, depending on the thickener used: soap lubricants, used mainly as antifriction lubricants, in which the thickeners are soaps, viz. salts of higher fatty acids obtained by neutralization of fatty stock materials with hydroxides of metals, the most widely used such lubricants being those based on calcium, lithium, barium, or aluminium soaps, as well as on mixed soaps, for example calcium-lead or barium-aluminium soaps; hydrocarbon lubricants, used mainly as anticorrosion lubricants in which the thickeners are high-molecular weight hydrocarbons of normal structure (paraffins), naphthenic, or naphtheno-aromatic hydrocarbons with long side chains (ceresins), mixtures thereof, and side products of deparaffinization (petrolatums); inorganic lubricants, often used instead of soap and hydro-carbon lubricants, obtained by thickening oils with the help of inorganic compounds such as clays (for example bentonite), silica gel, asbestos, mica, graphite, carbon black and sulphides, sulphites, oxides and hydroxides of various metals and by dispersion of pure metals, the most widely used such lubricants being silica gel, bentonite, graphite, and disulphide-molybdenum lubricants; organic lubricants, high temperature lubricants obtained by thickening oils with organic compounds such as pigments (pigment lubricants), urea derivatives (ureate lubricants), as well as lubricants for operating in agressive media, in which the thickeners used are solid high-molecular polymers, viz. polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, and fluorine-containing polymers, the base liquids employed in such lubricants being polymeric liquids, viz. polysiloxane and polyfluorocarbon, (polymer lubricants).

Various additives (stabilizing, antiscuff, antiwear, anticorrosion, antioxidizing, antiradiation) and solid fillers (antifriction, sealing, loading) are introduced into many plastic lubricants to improve their properties.

Liquid lubricants are of the following types: lubricating oils, used in internal-combustion engines, steam engines, turbines and compressors, and obtained by dispersion of various additives in base liquids (petroleum oils and their mixtures); lubricating compositions, used in metal working either directly or in the form of concentrates for preparing lubricating and cooling emulsions (liquids) and obtained either by simple dispersion of the components (additives, emulsifiers) in mineral oils, or by dispersion of the components entering into reaction (for example saponification), the reaction products being used as for example additives or emulsifiers.

At present, two main processes of producing lubricants are known, namely batch and continuous -processes. Various semi-continuous processes also find application.

Plastic lubricants are produced mainly by batch processes (see for example a book by Velikovsky D. S., Poddubny V. N., Vainshtok V. V., and Gotovkin B. D.

"Konsistentnye Smazki" (Consistent Lubricants), "Kimiya" Publishers, M., 1966).

This method comprises putting the initial components batched by weight or by volume into a boiling reactor with a capacity of up to 10 m3 fitted with a device for mechanical stirring. Saponification (for soap lubricants) is conducted up to 1000C for several hours (sometimes for dozens of hours), then water is evaporated, and the soap formed or other thickeners in oils are dispersed and thermally treated.

Thermal treatment comprises heating up to 100--2500C to obtain melts of thickeners in oils and cooling at a given rate down to 30--700C to establish required crystallization conditions. Cooling of the product is performed either in the boiling reactor or in a special cooler in which simultaneous deaeration of lubricants can be effected.

In the process of preparing plastic lubricants various additives and solid fillers can be added for the purposes mentioned above. After discharging from the reactor or cooler, some types of lubricants are additionally subjected to mechanical treatment to improve their rheological volume-mechanical properties, such as by grinding on rolling machines, or treating in slotted, disk, or other homogenizers, or colloid mills. The finished product is then prepacked and wrapped for delivering to consumers. The total duration of the technological cycle of producing plastic lubricants by batch process is from several hours to several days. All the stages, except for deaeration, are usually conducted at atmospheric pressure in unsealed reactors. Sometimes, for intensifying the processes, the saponification reaction is run in autoclaves under a pressure of up to 6 kgf/cm2 and at a temperature of up to 1500C. Deaeration is performed in vacuum apparatus.

The known method of producing plastic lubricants has the following disadvantages: the processes are multi-stage and time-consuming, which limits the equipment capacity; the processes are power-consuming with non-uniform energy consumption at separate stages; large size and weight of technological equipment; large working areas occupied by technological units involving, usually, several large-sized reactors; poor quality of dispersion, requiring increased specific consumption of expensive components such as thickeners, fillers, and additives; high labour consumption; complexity and inefficiency of process automation; and arduous conditions for the attending personnel (high temperatures, cancerogenic vapours of oils and of other components, high noise level, possible ejection of hot reaction mass from boiling reactors).

Many of the above disadvantages are eliminated when lubricants are obtained by continuous processes. There is known an advanced continuous technological process developed by "Texaco", USA (see for example the article by Rosenzweig M. D. "Continuous production of consistent lubricants on compact installations", Chemical Engineering, 1971, v. 78, No. 10, p. 67). This known process comprises feeding the initial components of a thickener and a portion of base liquid into a reactor in a given ratio. In the reactor a temperature of 1700C and a pressure of 7 kgf/cm2 are maintained. The reactor is suitably a coil heated with steam or hot oil.

Continuous circulation of the components through the coil favours their adequate intermixing. The treatment of the components in such a reactor takes 5 minutes.

The product discharged from the recirculation cycle is passed to a heat exchanger and then, through a valve regulating the pressure in the reactor and the heat exchanger, to an evaporation chamber where rarefaction at about 250 mm Hg is sustained. Water vapour is removed from the evaporation chamber through a vacuum line and condensed. The condensate is discharged into a waste water treatment system. The dehydrated mass is treated in the evaporation chamber for 30 minutes by recirculation through a dispersion valve under a pressure of about 4 kgf/cm2. The mass withdrawn from the evaporation chamber is mixed at a definite temperature with the remaining amount of oil and with additives. To obtain a homogeneous product, the resulting mixture is finally dispersed in a third recirculation cycle with a dispersion valve at a temperature of 105--107"C and under a pressure of 7 kgf/cm2. The final product is delivered into reservoirs for storage and then for packing and transportation.

This method of producing plastic lubricants has the following disadvantages: multiple and time-consuming recirculation of the product with exposure to intensive mechanical action is not suitable for all types of plastic lubricants such as calcium, lithium, sodium and some other lubricants which are weakened under such conditions, the ultimate strength being considerably decreased without further thyxotropic reduction; the use of a coil as a reactor requires recirculation for obtaining a turbulent flow in which mixing and dispersion of the components is ensured, but recirculation cannot provide complete treatment since part of the product discharged from the recirculation cycle is always mixed with a certain amount of undersaponified (for soap lubricants) and underdispersed components; the considerable time involved in treating the components in the reactor (up to 5 minutes) limits the productivity of the process; an insufficient degree of dispersing thickeners, fillers, and additives in a base liquid makes it impossible to improve the lubricant properties and to decrease consumption of expensive components as compared to a batch process; saponification reactions are performed at elevated temperatures (up to 1700C) and pressures (up to 7 kgf/cm2); and the automatic control of the saponification reaction and consequently of the product quality presents difficulties because of the elevated temperatures and pressures and nonsteady state processes in the reactor.

There are also known semi-continuous processes, the most interesting being that of producing plastic lubricants from dry soaps (see for example the report by Afanas'ev I. D., Vorob'eva V. A., et al. "Method nepreryvnogo proizvodstva smazok na sukhom myle" (Method of continuously producing lubricants on dry soaps), proceedings of scientific and technical conference, Tsniiteneftekhim, M., 1970, pp. 35--45). This method comprises charging dry soap, obtained by a special process and a base liquid together with additives into an apparatus fitted with a mechanical stirrer where dispersing is performed for several hours. This part of the process is a batch process. The dispersion obtained is then treated by a continuous method in which, with the help of a metering pump, the dispersion is pumped through a heated unit where it melts, through a cooler where the lubricant crystallizes, and after that through a filter and a homogenizing head ensuring the required rheological properties of the product.

This known semi-continuous process suffers from the following disadvantages: the necessity of preliminary preparing dry soap by a batch method with the help of large-sized reactors and centrifugal sprayers by complex technology involving considerable manual labour; difficulties in introducing automatic control of the process and of the quality of the soap obtained; lengthy duration of the process of preparing the soap-oil dispersion in the apparatus with the mechanical stirrer; and an insufficient degree of dispersion, which, as in the previous case, makes it impossible to decrease the consumption of expensive components and to improve the quality of the lubricant obtained.

Liquid lubricants are also prepared both by periodic and continuous processes. From the technological standpoint, the preparation of liquid lubricating compositions for metal working is the most complicated process (see for example a book by Kurchik N. N., Vainshtok V. V., and Shekhter Yu. N. "Smazochnye materialy dlya obrabotki metallov rezaniem" (Lubricants for treating metals by cutting), "Khimiya" Publishers, M., 1972). Lubricants for these purposes are mainly prepared by a batch process. However, due to the much higher volume of production, reservoirs of a capacity of from 100 to 1,000 m3 are usually used as boiling apparatus. Mixing and dispersing of the components in such reservoirs are performed either by the recirculation method or by bubbling compressed air through a bed of the product. Working temperatures do not exceed 100"C, pressure is atmospheric, and the cycle duration is from several hours to several days. All the above-mentioned disadvantages of the batch processes are inherent in this method.

The present invention provides a method of producing plastic and liquid lubricants, comprising dispersing initial components, which comprise one or more base liquids and at least one thickener, filler or other additive, in a vortical layer of non-equiaxial ferromagnetic particles, which is formed under the effect of a rotating magnetic field by an inductor supplied with an active power not exceeding 4.4 kW per litre of the working zone of the reactor, and, optionally subjecting the dispersion thus formed to one or more of melting, removal of moisture from the product, cooling the product, filtering, deaerating, and homogenizing.

The method according to the invention of producing plastic and liquid lubricants leads to the following advantages: makes it possible to considerably reduce compared to the known batch processes and compared to the known continuous processes the duration of the chemical reactions between the lubricant components and the duration of dispersing these components; ensures a continuous technological process with high productivity; decreases by 1020% the specific consumption of expensive components and also decreases the consumption of energy; and lowers operating temperatures and pressures.

The thickener which is dispersed may be suitably formed during the same dispersion of the initial components in the medium of ferromagnetic particles. This makes it possible to diminish the duration of treatment and to simplify the production of soap lubricants, which requires chemical reactions between the components to be conducted.

Preferably non-equiaxial ferromagnetic particles having a ratio of their greater dimension to their smaller dimension of from 6 to 20 are used, which ensures optimum conditions for chemical reactions and for dispersing the components with a minimum consumption of energy. It will be understood that by the greater dimension of a non-equiaxial particle is meant the length of the particle along its longitudinal axis, and that by its smaller dimension is meant the width of the projection of the particle onto a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the particle.

To preclude corrosion of the particles and to prevent contamination of the lubricant with corrosion products and with the metals of the particles, there may be used ferromagnetic particles coated with a layer of a material resistant to the action of all the components of the final product, for example with a layer of a polymer.

The method according to the invention may be suitably carried out in a reactor comprising a length of a non-magnetic pipeline around which a system of windings is arranged creating a rotating magnetic field. Non-equiaxial ferromagnetic particles are placed in the reactor, and these particles are set in a compound motion under the effect of the rotating magnetic field. Each particle travels in the direction of field rotation and simultaneously rotates precessionally about its smallest axis at a speed of 10,000 r.p.m. Ferromagnetic particles, operating as elementary mechanical stirrers, create a vortical layer filling the whole operating volume of the reactor, and at the same time emit acoustic and ultrasonic oscillations over a wide frequency spectrum. In addition, under the action of an alternating magnetic field, ferromagnetic particles emit magnetostrictive oscillations. Eddy currents, arising in the particles as in electric conductors, give rise to rapidly alternating magnetic and electric fields. Due to the combined action of all these factors, intensive stirring and dispersion of the components take place in the working zone of the reactor, and at the same time the components are fed into the reactor continuously and in a given ratio. The duration of treating the components in the reactor, even when saponification (for soap lubricants) takes place, does not exceed several seconds at temperatures of no more than 70--90"C under atmospheric pressure.

The product obtained in the reactor is discharged continuously and delivered to the subsequent stages of treatment, if necessary. Thus, for example, when preparing sodium or lithium soap lubricants, the dispersion obtained is heated at a temperature of about 16(w2500C to produce a melt of thickeners in oils with a regular structure. Water is then evaporated, deaeration is performed, and the product is cooled at a rate ensuring a prescribed crystalline structure of the lubricant. The lubricants are then subjected to homogenation to improve their rheological properties. The ferromagnetic particles are retained by the magnetic field in the working zone of the reactor and do not contaminate the product.

The best effect can be obtained when using non-equiaxial ferromagnetic particles having a ratio of their greater dimension to their smaller dimension of from 6 to 20. Various ferromagnetic metals and alloys, both magnetically soft and hard, such as carbonaceous steel, nickel, and cobalt-nickel alloys can be used for preparing the ferromagnetic particles.

When it is necessary to exclude interaction of aggressive components of the product being treated with the material of the ferromagnetic particles and contamination of the flow with corrosion products and with the materials of the particles, the surface of the particles can be coated with a layer of a polymer insoluble in oils or of other material stable to acids, alkalies, and other aggressive components entering into the composition of the lubricants being produced.

Suitable coatings can be made of polyethylene, polyamides, polyvinyl chloride, fluorinated plastic, and other materials, depending on the required stability of the coating and on the working temperatures. Thus, polyvinyl chloride coatings can be used at temperatures of not more than 60--70"C; at 70--900C satisfactory results are obtained with polyethylene or polyamides; at higher temperatures fluorinated plastic is suitable. Fluorinated plastic coatings are very stable to aggressive components present in the product flow.

To produce a magnetic rotating field, there may be used inductors of simple design supplied from three-phase alternating current mains of industrial frequency (50 Hz). This allows a maximum speed of rotation of the magnetic field to be obtained equal to 3,000 r.p.m. (for the USA it is possible to use a frequency of 60 Hz and a speed of rotation 3,600 r.p.m.). In this case the active power consumed will not exceed 4.4 kW per litre of the working zone of the reactor. In practice, the working zone of the reactors with the rotating magnetic field may be from a half a litre to dozens of litres, depending on the required capacity.

A high degree of dispersion of the components makes it possible to reduce the amount of thickeners, fillers, and additives by 1020% compared to the previously known methods, the properties of the lubricants obtained being the same or even better.

The characteristics of the initial products which can be used for producing plastic and liquid lubricants by the method according to the present invention are given below.

Fatty stock material is used in the production of soap lubricants for preparing soaps: stearic acid, 12-oxystearic acid, hydrogenated castor oil, cotton seed oil, talloil, vegetable oil, animal fats, hydrogenated fats of fish and sea animals, technical and goudroun fat, and synthetic fatty acids; and hydroxides of metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, strontium, barium, aluminium, lead and silver.

Soaps are prepared by neutralization of higher fatty acids with metal hydroxides (alkalies);

for example,

stearic acid lithium soap of stearic acid or by saponification of higher fatty acid glycerides with alkalies:

where R is an aliphatic radical [CH3ACH2)n] and Me is a metal cation.

Paraffin, ceresin, petrolatum and mixtures thereof may be used as thickeners for hydrocarbon lubricants.

For inorganic lubricants the following thickeners may be used: bentonite clay, silica gel, asbestos, mica, graphite, carbon black, oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, sulphites, sulphides, disulphides, and nitrides of various metals, fibre glass, and fine powders of pure metals such as aluminium, copper, iron, zinc, tin, lead, and of various alloys which are dispersed in oils containing surfactants.

For organic lubricants the following thickeners may be used: pigments (copper indanthrene, copper phthalocyanine, oxazole, isoviolanthrone); arylureates (urea derivatives); alkyl and acyl derivatives of urea, tetraureates; aminophenols, alcoholates of metals, cellulose, calcium acetate, chelates of cobalt and zinc dithiooxamides, triazine derivatives, copolymers of vinylacetate and ethylene, and titanium and zirconium tetraphenyphosphinates. However, only lubricants thickened with the following thickeners have found practical application: phthalocyanine, indanthrene, and other pigments, arylureates, and some polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polytrifluorochloroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyamides.

The following additives may be introduced into lubricants: antioxidizing: diphenylamine; tetrabenzylamide of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; 2,4 - diaminodiphenyl ester; 1 - alkylbenzyl - 3 - phenylureate; acenapht 1,2 - a - acenaphtylene; di- tert- butyl- n- cresol; lead and zinc diamyldithiocarbamates; phenothiazine; dilaurylselenide; trisodiumphosphate; deactivators of metals (inhibiting catalytic action of metals on oxidizing processes in lubricants): 1) passivators forming films on metal surfaces such as: ,5 - di cyclohexylaminoethylsulphide, triarylalkylphosphate, and trialkylphosphate; 2) deactivators entering into reaction with ions of metals with the formation of catalytically inactive compounds such as: disalicylindeneethylenediamine (Nonoxol CD), imides of oxalic acid, and soaps of some metals (chromium, tin, or nickel oleates). "Nonoxol" is a Registered Trade Mark.

The concentration of such deactivators preferably does not exceed 0.001- 0.5%. In lithium lubricants free lithium hydroxide acts as a deactivator.

Anticorrosion additives used in anticorrosion and antifriction lubricants; they must be present in inorganic lubricants such as lead, magnesium, or zinc naphthenate, a mixture of barium naphthenates and sulphonates, manganese oleate, amides of benzenepolycarboxylic acids; alkylene - bis(alkylsuccinimide); products of the reaction of organic amines with polymers of unsaturated acids, chromates and bichromates of alkali and alkaline earth metals and of zinc, sodium nitrite, 1,2,4-triazol in admixture with 3 - amine - 1,2,4 - triazol, butylstearate, sorbitol monooleate, salts of phosphoric, nitric, and naphthenic acids, derivatives of phenols, wool fat, and products of petrolatum oxidation; antiscuff and antiwear additives, used mainly in lubricants for heavy-loaded mechanisms. More often use is made of compounds of sulphur, chlorine, phosphorus, salts of molybdic or tungstic acids, cadmium salts of acetic and oxalic acids, lead naphthenates, and carbonates of some metals. The concentration of these additives in lubricants preferably varies from 0.1 to 10%. Among the additives are: sulphurated spermaceti oil; bis - butylxantogenate, resorcinol sulphides, y isomer of hexachlorobenzene, telomers of trifluorochloroethylene, tricresylphosphate, thiobisdichlorophenol, 3 - (2 - chloroethyl)phosphate, lead naphthenate, antimony diamyldithiocarbamate; a mixture of calcium sulphonate and bismuth sulphide; tungsten carbonyl; sulphonated oxymolybdenum dithiocarbamates; dicyclohexylamine and esters of boric acid.

Solid fillers are materials insoluble in oils and incapable of forming a structure; fillers which improve properties of plastic lubricants are: antifriction-molybdenum disulphide (MoS2), graphite, polymers, (polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene); sealing (for threaded and gland jointsSpowders of soft metals (lead, zinc, copper); loading (for increasing density of the lubricants operating for example under water in immersible pumpsAlead filings.

The dispersion medium or base liquid constitutes not less than 50 /n of lubricants.

Therefore, in spite of the fact that the most important characteristics of lubricants are determined by the type of the thickener, such parameters as viscosity, solidification point, and colloidal stability depend on the oil base used. Petroleum and synthetic oils are usually applied. The great majority of lubricants (99.9%) are prepared with petroleum oils with a viscosity of from 4 to 450 cSt (at 500 C).

Synthetic oils are used for producing lubricants operating under especially arduous conditions. Such lubricants are produced in small amounts (dozens of tons per year). The lubricants are produced either with pure synthetic oils, or with mixtures of synthetic and petroleum oils. The most widely used synthetic oils are polysiloxanes, esters, synthetic hydrocarbons, polyphenyl esters, polyalkyleneglycols, and halogen derivatives of hydrocarbons.

Polysiloxanes (polymer compounds of silicon and oxygen) are the main type of synthetic oils for high-temperature lubricants operatable up to 25--3000C.

Polydimethyl and polydiethylsiloxanes, polyphenylmethylsiloxanes, and polyfluorosiloxanes may be suitably used.

Also used are esters of dibasic acids, polyphenyl esters, polyalkyleneglycols, polymers of fluorine-containing hydrocarbons, perfluorotrialkylamines, and perfluoroalkyl polyesters.

Emulsifiers may be introduced into compositions of lubricants used as lubricating and cooling liquids in metal working; among these are ethyl alcohol, water, and polyglycols.

The method according to the present invention of producing plastic and liquid lubricants offers the following advantages: duration of saponification and dispersion of the components is considerably reduced compared to known batch processes and compared to the known continuous processes; duration of action on the product during treatment in the reactor does not exceed several seconds; there may be obtained continous performance of the processes with a high capacity; the technological flow sheet is simplified and the size and weight of the equipment, and consequently the working floor areas occupied by the equipment are reduced; specific power consumption per unit of the produced products is decreased; The quaiity of the dispersion process is increased and it is possible to reduce by 1-20 the specific consumption of expensive components such as thickeners, fillers, and additives; working pressures and temperatures are reduced, which makes it possible to decrease the power consumption and to increase the safety of the processes; complex automation of the technological processes of producing lubricants becomes possible, including automatic control and regulatlon of the characteristlcs of the product; labour conditions are improved and labour productivity is increased.

The invention will be further described with reference to the following illustrative Examples.

Example 1 To obtain plastic lithium soap lubricant, non-equiaxial ferromagnetic particles, from magnetically soft carbonaceous steel, having a ratio of their greater dimension to their smaller dimension of from 9-11 and with a surface covered by a polyethylene layer, were placed in a 0.5-lit. reactor fitted with an electric inductor having an active power of 1.7 kW and supplied from a three-phase alternatingcurrent mains at 380/220 W and 50 Hz. The inductor was switched on and a magnetic field was established inside the reactor, the magnetic field rotating at a speed of 3,000 r.p.m. The flow of the components was fed into the reactor with the help of a metering device at 760C, the flow rates of the components being as follows: technical-grade stearin 44.8 kg/hr; 10% aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide 36.2 kg/hr, mineral oil with a viscosity of 7 cSt at +500C 392.0 kg/hr; 5% solution of diphenylamine in the same mineral oil 27.0 kg/hr.

The soap-oil dispersion formed at a flow rate of 500 kg/hr was delivered from the reactor with the rotating magnetic field with the help of a metering pump into a thermal unit. the soap-oil dispersion was melted in the thermal unit at +2200C under a pressure of 15 kgf/cm2. The product leaving the thermal unit passed to an evaporator where a rarefaction at 15W220 mm Hg was maintained. Due to a sharp pressure drop, the moisture from the product was completely removed. The product temperature fell to + 1 500C. From the evaporator, the product was fed with the help of a second measuring device into a scraper cooler where it was cooled down to +400C, and then the product passed through a filter and a slotted homogenizer where it was treated under I00--120 kgf/cm2. The product was then discharged.

The lubricant obtained (465 kg/hr) had the following characteristics: ultimate strength at +500C 4Gf/cm2; viscosity at -500C and shear rate 10 s-t 6,450 poises; free alkali content as calculated for NaOH 0.08%; drop point 178"C; oxidability (in mg of KOH) 0.13; colloidal stability 24.2%; evaporativity 18.8%; mechanical impurities none water content none corrosive action on copper plates at +1000C for 3 hours none Example 2 To obtain plastic lithium soap lubricant, similar to that described in Example 1, a 2-lit. reactor fitted with an inductor having an active power of 7.5 kW and the same type of ferromagnetic particles were used. The flow rates of the components were as follows: technical-grade stearin 190 kg/hr; 10% aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide 153 kg/hr; mineral oil with a viscosity of 7 cSt at 500C 1,660 kg/hr; 5% solution of diphenylamine in the same mineral oil 120 kg/hr; The soap-oil dispersion (2,123 kg/hr) formed in the reactor was treated by following the procedure described in Example 1; lubricant was obtained (1,980 kg/hr) with characteristics similar to those given in Example 1.

Example 3 To obtain plastic calcium soap lubricant, non-equiaxial ferromagnetic nickel particles (with open surface) having a ratio of their greater dimension to their smaller dimension of from 1W12 were placed in a 0.5-lit. reactor fitted with an inductor having an active power of 1.7 kW.

The components were fed into the reactor at +800C at the following flow rates: synthetic fatty acids C20 and higher 50 kg/hr; synthetic fatty acids C5-C6 20 kg/hr; water 5 kg/hr; lime-oil suspension with lime content of 3 wt.% prepared on petroleum oil with viscosity of 20 cSt at +50 C 450 kg/hr.

The final lubricant discharged from the reactor (525 kg/hr) had the following characteristics: ultimate strength at +500C 3.4 Gf/cm2; viscosity at OOC and shear rate 10 s- 1,640 poises; free alkali content as calculated for NaOH 0.1%; water content 2%; mechanical impurities none corrosive action on steel plates for 3 hours none Example 4 To obtain an acidic synthetic intermediate product for the preparation of a water-emulsion lubricating-cooling liquid by simple dispersing of synthetic fatty acids in oil, non-protected ferromagnetic particles from magnetically soft steel having a ratio of their greater dimension to their smaller dimension of from 1020 were put into a 25-lit. reactor with a 110 kW inductor. The components were fed into the reactor at 900C at the following flow rates: synthetic fatty acids C20 and higher 3 ton/hr; petroleum oil with viscosity of 20 cSt at +500C 27 ton/hr.

The final product discharged from the reactor (30 ton/hr) had the following characteristics: acid number (in mg of KOH per gram of the product) 9.6; stability: separation of oil for 3 hours 0.2%; water content 1%; mechanical impurities none.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of producing plastic and liquid lubricants, comprising dispersing initial components, which comprise one or more base liquids and at least one thickener, filler or other additive, in a vortical layer of non-equiaxial ferromagnetic particles, which is formed under the effect of a rotating magnetic field by an inductor supplied with an active power not exceeding 4.4 kW per litre of the working zone of the reactor.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising subjecting the dispersion thus formed to one or more of melting, removal of moisture from the product, cooling the product, filtering, deaerating, and homogenizing.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the initial components contain compounds from which thickening agents are prepared by making these compounds react with each other in the course of the said dispersion.

4. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein non-equiaxial ferromagnetic particles having a ratio of their greater dimension (as hereinbefore defined) to their smaller dimension (as hereinbefore defined) of from 6 to 20 are used.

5. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein ferromagnetic particles are used which are coated with a layer of a material that is resistant to the effect of all the components of the final product.

6. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the vortical layer of non-equiaxial ferromagnetic particles is formed under the effect of a rotating magnetic field by an inductor supplied with an active power of from 3.4 to 4.4 kW per litre of the working zone of the reactor.

7. A method according to Claim 1 of producing plastic and liquid lubricants, substantially as herein described in any of the foregoing Examples.

8. Plastic and liquid lubricants when produced by the method claimed in any of

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1 to 7.