Development and testing of a novel glycerol/chitosan based biocide-free hydraulic fluid

摘要

High quantities of hydraulic fluids are used in a wide range of technical applications. Today, these fluids are mostly based on the finite resource mineral oil. Additives like biocides partly pose problems for man and environment. A professional disposal of hydraulic oils is cost-intensive and these oils often enter the environment by leakages and accidents. In order to overcome these drawbacks, the task of the investigation was to develop a novel hydraulic fluid that is free of mineral oil and biocides, based on renewable materials, compatible to human health and the environment and that has a very good technical performance. These specifications could be met with a base fluid consisting of glycerol, carboxymethyl chitosan, and water, that was investigated and improved by determining the best composition and by additive enhancement. Practice oriented long-term tests conducted with a model hydraulic aggregate demonstrated that a high-performing novel hydraulic fluid was developed. Friction effects on the properties of the hydraulic fluid are discussed in this paper. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.