Composition for Minimum Quantity Lubrication, and Use of Same

Abstract

The invention relates to a lubricant composition and to the use of same for minimum quantity lubrication in the field of metalworking. The composition comprises 0.05 to 5 wt.% of emulsifier in relation to the total weight of the composition, and an amount of an aliphatic C 16-24 alcohol that makes the composition up to 100%. The emulsifier is selected from fatty alcohol polyalkylene glycol ethers or glycolic acid alkoxylate alkyl ethers or mixtures thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A lubricant composition for minimum quantity lubrication in metalworking, the lubricant composition comprising:
 an emulsifier in a quantity of 0.05wt. % to 5wt. % of a total weight of the lubricant composition;   an aliphatic C 16-24  alcohol in a quantity of a remaining balance of the total weight of the lubricant composition;   wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohol polyalkylene glycol ethers; glycolic acid alkoxylate alkyl ethers; or mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the emulsifier comprises a fatty alcohol polyalkylene glycol ether of the formula (I)
   R*-[(CH 2 CH 2 O) x -(CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O) y]-R   1    (I)
   wherein R 1  is an aliphatic, branched or linear C 16-18  alkyl residue or alkylene residue,   wherein R* is a hydroxyl residue,   wherein x=0 to 10, y=0 to 10, and x+y=1 to 10.   
     
     
         11 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the emulsifier comprises a glycolic acid alkoxylate alkyl ether of the formula (II)
   R 2 -O-[(CH 2 CH 2 O) x -(CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O) y ]-CH 2 -COOH   (II)
   wherein R 2  is an aliphatic, branched or linear C 6-20  alkyl residue or alkylene residue,   wherein x=0 to 10, y=0 to 10, and x+y=1 to 10.   
     
     
         12 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the aliphatic C 16-24  alcohol is a branched alcohol. 
     
     
         13 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the aliphatic C 16-24  alcohol is a Guerbet alcohol. 
     
     
         14 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the aliphatic C 16-24  alcohol is a C 20  alcohol. 
     
     
         15 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 9 , further comprising 0.05wt. % to 5wt. %, relative to the total weight of the composition, of a fatty acid alkanolamide or an alkoxylated fatty acid alkanolamide of the formula (III)
   R 3  -(CO)-NR′-(CH 2 ) 2 -O-[(CH 2 CH 2 O) x -(CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O) y ]-R″   (III)
   wherein R 3  is an aliphatic, linear or branched C 5-23  alkyl residue or alkylene residue,   wherein R′, R″ independent of each other is hydrogen or an aliphatic, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl residue or alkenyl residue, and   wherein x=0 to 10, y=0 to 10, and x+y=0 to 10.   
     
     
         16 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 9 , further comprising one or more performance additives selected from the group consisting of:
 a) sulfurized compounds selected from the group consisting of sulfurized olefins, sulfurized esters, sulfurized triglycerides, and sulfurized natural ester oils,   b) C 12-24  fatty acids,   c) ethoxylated natural oil,   d) KOH-saponified rapeseed oil, and   e) ethoxylated acidic phosphoric acid ester.   
     
     
         17 . The lubricant composition according to  claim 16 , wherein a proportion of each one of the one or more performance additives, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, amounts to 15wt. % and wherein a proportion of the sum of the one or more performance additives, relative to the total weight of the composition, amounts to 30wt. %. 
     
     
         18 . A method of minimum quantity lubrication in metalworking, the method comprising employing a lubricant composition according to  claim 9  during machining of a workpiece and washing off, with water, residues of the lubricant composition remaining on surfaces of the workpiece and on surfaces of a tool.