BIODEGRADABLE LUBRICANTS AND FUNCTIONAL FLUIDS

摘要

Certain hydrogenated oligomers of 1-alkene hydrocarbons have been found to be substantially biodegradable upon exposure to microbiological agents of typ es widely available in the environment. Thus, in an operation wherein lubricating o il or functional fluid is released into the environment, there is provided for use as the lubricating oil or functional fluid a substantially biodegradable lubricating oi l or functional fluid at least 10 percent by volume of which is composed of at least one substantially biodegradable liquid hydrocarbon of lubricating viscosity formed b y oligomerisation of 1-alkene hydrocarbon having 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the molec ule and hydrogenation of the resultant oligomer.