Powerful oligomers and polymers from our partner Green Frix

Our supply partner Green Frix S.A. and its biobased oligomers and polymers were already featured in an article in the May 2021 issue of LUBES’N’GREASES magazine.  Under the title “Sustainability Strikes Again”, our partner’s biobased oils were highlighted as paragon additives of the current sustainability movement.

Only a few years ago, environmentally friendly and sustainable additives were seen for the most part as high-priced, low-volume curiosities for use in niche applications only. Now, these so-called green additives are experiencing a renaissance. This is because of the growing number of sustainability movements focusing increasingly on the origin of each chemical product. There is also the increasing pressure from the European Union to achieve CO₂ neutrality. Thus, sustainable additives are stepping out of the shadow of the old industry standards in terms of performance, volume, and cost.

Previously, customers had little incentive to prefer biobased products over the cheaper fossil products. Yet, the world has changed dramatically in recent years. Companies are now being rewarded for ecological thinking, which is in turn increasing the demand for sustainable products. Going by what the author wrote, this trend is set to continue, and companies are well advised to prepare their products for the coming demand.

Green Frix S.A. is conscious of this challenge, and is continually investing in the development of new biobased oligomers and polymers for use in lubricants, greases, and metalworking fluids. For lubricants, plant-based oils offer the following advantages:

• Biodegradability
• Excellent lubrication
• High flashpoint
• Good solvency (ability to dissolve additives and to disperse contaminants)

To produce these oligomers and polymers, Green Frix has long been using a proprietary developed and patented, plasma-based method, which Manager for Technology and Development Frederic Danneaux compares with the natural phenomenon of lightning. A “lightning strike” through a mixture of charged ions modifies the molecular structures of the oils, producing oligomers and polymers with viscosities of 68 to 6,000 mm²/s. It is even possible to influence the shear-thinning characteristics in order to prevent undesirable slip-stick behaviour.

Not only sustainable but also powerful

Our Belgian partner Green Frix S. A. is an expert for plasma-based crosslinking of vegetable oils. The treatment with plasma creates reactive centres in the fatty acid molecules of the natural oils, making them able to react with one another and become crosslinked. By targetedly choosing the parameters (type, intensity, and duration of the plasma treatment), Green Frix can achieve any desired properties. Thus, oligomers can be produced with defined viscosities in the range from 68 to 6,000 mm²/s. Various level of shear-thinning behaviour complete the set of performances of Green Frix products. In addition, it is possible to introduce new functional or even reactive groups, such as hydroxy or phosphate groups. Green Frix is continually expanding its portfolio, and makes development products at customer request.

The oils and oligomers are already being used successfully in the following applications:

• Lubricants
• Greases (high-viscosity)
• Automotive
• Fuels
• Cosmetics 
• Food-safe lubricants
• Watches

The table below shows the Fadol series, listed by viscosity of the products. You can find out more about other physicochemical properties and details on NSF and LuSC listing in the linked overview.

With the growing importance of sustainable raw materials and increasing regulatory challenges, these natural oils and oligomers offer a particular advantage for their biodegradability of at least 60%.

If you are interested, we will gladly advise you on the green additives of Green Frix.

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