Renewable Lubricants unveils bio-based oils for use in rubber compounding

HARTVILLE, Ohio—Sustainability is imperative for tire and rubber goods makers. That makes more sustainable process oils critical to the industry's future.

That's where Hartville-based Renewable Lubricants can make a difference, as it invests in growing its portfolio of bio-process oils for the tire, rubber and silicone sectors. It's a move that the company hopes results in bottom line growth as well.

Renewable Lubricants' newest product line is Bio-Process Oils, a family of blended, highly refined biosynthetic bio-based oils that are marketed by the company as a safe and sustainable alternative to neutral petroleum mineral oils. They are often used as processing aids and extender oils in rubber compounding applications. The bio-based oils are available in viscosity grades (SUS) of 50, 70, 100, 150, and 200, and are designed to suit a wide range of climates, preferences, industries and applications.

The company has made progress with the research and development of a natural, oil-based process to substitute for more common petroleum-based oils—and at the right time. Demand is expected to grow based on an increasing number of OEMs committing to the use of fully sustainable oils in their products, according to Luke Bruce, technical support and product development manager for the company.

Bruce specifically referenced tire manufacturers Michelin and Goodyear as examples. Michelin in October 2022 said it had become the first tire manufacturer to design a tire integrating up to 58 percent sustainable materials and approved for road use. Goodyear has promoted its use of bio-based oils to help reach the goal of fully replacing petroleum-based oils in its products by 2040.

"There's a major desire by many companies to replace traditional oils with mineral and other (naturally) processed oils," Bruce said.

One such oil is commodity soybean oil, which is used in a variety of formulas by Renewable Lubricants. In fact, the company is working with the United Soybean Board to create industrial applications for refined vegetable oil for multiple sectors, including rubber and food. The process of using soybean oil includes removing any antioxidants, which allows it to be edible. Renewable Lubricants has been awarded grants by organizations like the United Soybean Board for research projects in the past, although the vast majority of its revenue is from clients.

Renewable Lubricants was started by founder Bill Garmier out of his Ohio garage in 1991, thanks to a grant similar to those awarded from United Soybean Board. It began as a research and development company that developed high-performance products that would directly replace petroleum-based products. Today, Renewable Lubricants employs about 15 professionals in the R&D, manufacturing, packaging and sales spaces. It offers more than 250 products and has more than 100 worldwide patents.

"We're focused on (creating and processing) environmentally sustainable fluids that meet performance requirements in real-world situations," Bruce said. "This has many benefits, such as making (the oil products) as easy and headache free to use, especially if you have to deal with a spill."

Bio-process oils are largely considered a safer alternative for both employees and the environment. Stabilized to resist oxidation and provide light color stability, they are odorless and chlorine-, and sulfur-free. Renewable Lubricants manufactures sustainable oils that are highly refined, bleached and deodorized oils high in oleic acid content. This allows for greater stability compared to conventional vegetable oils.

Within the rubber space, the bio-process oils are highly compatible with elastomers that have a high degree of lubricity. The viscosity index in natural oils are twice as efficient, Bruce said. Those benefits allow Renewable Lubricants to conduct numerous projects for customers who are working in or near waterways and other highly sensitive areas of the environment.

One other notable industry is the elevator space, where less hydraulic toxins remove some of the flashpoints associated with fire hazards from these oils. The bio-process oils offer extremely low volatility that increases the flash and fire safety features, making them safer to use.

"A lot of the benefits these oils offer is in the safety, whether it is fire safety or chemical safety," Bruce said. "It's all about human safety."

Safety joins sustainability and performance as three of the company's main tenets, he added. While customers want environmentally friendly options, they still demand high performance, which can be harder to achieve with sustainable oils. To ensure performance and long life, Renewable Lubricants developed a filtration standard that meets or exceeds the Rexroth pump guidelines for hydraulic fluids.