Industry experts recently reported that advances in biodegradable hydraulic fluids are helping them meet the required standards for performance, protection and sustainability.
An increased demand in biodegradable hydraulic oil and fluid has driven advancements in formulations to answer key requirements in performance and sustainability.
A need for more sustainable lubricants continues to rise in multiple industries, including those employing hydraulic fluids in various applications. This, combined with heightened regulatory requirements across the world, has propelled ongoing efforts in the field of hydraulic fluids that are biodegradable.
Sector Manager for Chevron Industrial Lubricants Sector Manager, Rebecca Zwetzig, commented that these built-for-purpose fluids must answer strict environmental standards without compromising performance or the lubricant’s capacity to protect the equipment it serves.
Striking the correct balance between the various requirements has often been a difficult task for lubricant makers. However, the latest innovations in lubricant base oils, additive packages and other inclusions are now helping to drive forward a brand-new generation of hydraulic fluids designed to be biodegradable, which can now overcome their previous challenges.
The term “environmentally acceptable lubricants” (EAL) is used by environmental regulators to class products that can achieve set standards for toxicity, bioaccumulation and biodegradability. This refers to hydraulic fluids that have biodegradation levels of up to 60 per cent or more across a 28-day period. These are the hydraulic fluids that many developers are aiming to formulate in their efforts to minimise the environmental effects of lubricants during and after use.
