Biodegradable Cold-Rolling Oil for Aluminium Evaporation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The aluminum and aluminum alloys cold-rolling industry requires a biodegradable, non-fossil based neat oil with improved properties such as low aromatic content, high biocarbon content, and specific boiling and viscosity ranges to enhance rolling efficiency, surface finish, and safety, while meeting food industry compliance.

Innovation Solution

A biodegradable fluid with a boiling range of 200°C to 400°C, comprising over 95% isoparaffins and less than 3% naphthenes, and containing at least 95% biocarbon, produced through catalytic hydrogenation of hydrodeoxygenated isomerized hydrocarbon biomass feedstock, offering low aromatic content and high biodegradability, suitable for cold rolling with optimized evaporation and thermal conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional petroleum base oils are used for cold rolling, then rolling efficiency and surface finish are improved, but biodegradability is poor and aromatic content is high causing environmental and food safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling efficiencyVSAvoidaromatic content and biodegradability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the rolling fluid by using biodegradable hydrocarbon fluids with specific properties: boiling range 200-400°C, less than 100 ppm aromatics, and high biodegradability (≥60% at 28 days). This parameter transformation maintains rolling efficiency while eliminating harmful aromatic content and improving environmental compatibility for food industry applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a rolling fluid that is readily biodegradable (≥60% degradation at 28 days), effectively making it environmentally disposable. This approach allows the fluid to perform its lubrication function during rolling operations and then naturally decompose without persisting in the environment, resolving the contradiction between performance and environmental harm

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Temperature

If rolling fluids with high evaporation rate are used, then cooling effect is improved, but recondensation occurs causing deposits formation on metal surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoiddeposits formation
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the boiling range parameter of the rolling fluid to 200-400°C, which provides adequate volatility for cooling effect during high-speed rolling operations while being high enough to prevent recondensation and subsequent deposits formation on the metal strip surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of evaporation (which could cause recondensation and deposits) into a benefit by selecting a boiling range that ensures complete evaporation of the rolling fluid during the rolling process, with the vapor being safely discharged without recondensing, thus eliminating deposits formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Force

If rolling fluids with long chain hydrocarbons are used, then lubrication performance is improved, but viscosity is too high affecting surface finish and filtration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication performanceVSAvoidsurface finish and filtration
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular structure parameters by using branched-chain hydrocarbons (isoparaffins with ≥95% content) instead of straight-chain hydrocarbons. This structural modification provides adequate lubrication performance through molecular branching while maintaining lower viscosity for improved surface finish and filtration characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite molecular structure using predominantly isoparaffinic hydrocarbons (≥95%) combined with specific boiling range characteristics (200-400°C). This composite approach achieves both lubrication performance and operational ease by combining the lubricating properties of hydrocarbons with the flow benefits of branched structures and controlled molecular weight distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The fluid provides improved rolling efficiency, surface finish, and safety with complete evaporation control, reduced recondensation risks, and enhanced thermal conductivity, meeting food industry standards and reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

High thermal conductivity and heat transfer rate are two important features for the products used in rolling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

exhibit a controlled evaporation rate with a complete recovery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3532572B1Use of biodegradable hydrocarbon fluids for aluminium cold-rolling
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 TOTALENERGIES ONETECH

AI summary

The invention is the use, as oil for aluminium and aluminium alloys cold rolling, of a fluid having a boiling point in the range of from 200°C to 400°C and a boiling range below 80°C, said fluid comprising more than 95% by weight isoparaffins and less than 3% by weight of naphthens, a biocarbon content of at least 95% by weight, containing less than 100ppm by weight aromatics.