US Agricultural Research Service scientists have developed a bio-based lubricant called 'estolides' claimed to offer cold and oxygen resistance outperforming that provided by existing bio-lubes,reports Monica Dobie.The scientists have chemically connected different unsaturated fatty acids in production,creating unsaturated estolides capable of withstanding -30 deg C,and saturated estolides able to handle temperatures of -40 deg C,before thickening into gels.Conventional soya-based lubricants are only capable of withstanding temperatures down to -18 deg C.
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