Biodegradable lubricants 

Interesting for machines as well as movable structures

In the earth-moving industry, biodegradable lubricants are now well established. Logical too, because the latest generation of saturated esters and PAOs are characterized by extraordinary performance and long life. Taco Mets, Technical Director at Van Meeuwen Lubrication, also notices an increasing interest from civil engineering. "Biodegradable lubricants lend themselves extremely well, for example, to drive works with open gears in bridges, locks and flood defenses."

Van Meeuwen Lubrication has been in the business of supplying and developing lubricants for all kinds of applications in the ground, road and hydraulic engineering, agriculture, landscaping, marine and offshore sectors for more than 90 years. "Since the last 25 years, we have had a strong focus on biodegradable lubricants," says Mets. "However, there is still a negative image attached to this type of lubricants. Completely unjustified, by the way, because with the current generation of saturated esters and Poly Alpha Olefins (PAOs) you can switch to biodegradable without compromise. This applies to both oils and lubricating greases. With the side benefit of a much longer service life than conventional mineral oil-based lubricants."

Do not blindly switch

The first ships filled by Van Meeuwen Lubrication some eight years ago with PAOs from BIOMAX^TM still function smoothly on the same oil charge without changing it, according to Mets. "So the image that it destroys machines or that lubricants break down prematurely is completely outdated." In turn, Mets does not recommend switching blindly. "It takes knowledge to make it a success, especially if it involves somewhat older equipment." He is referring to knowledge of the machine itself and the maintenance history to switch to saturated ester oils. "Seals, gaskets, hoses and rubbers that come into contact with lubricants can swell, shrink or become brittle, leading to leaks. This applies to conventional, as well as biodegradable oils. If there are doubts, you can use biodegradable PAOs without any problem. These have a neutral character with respect to seals and machine paints." A PAO also behaves excellently in very wet operating conditions or in situations where there is a lot of moisture, according to Mets. 

Smarter lubrication

Van Meeuwen Lubrication also has biodegradable alternatives for greases. "A grease should actually be thought of as a thickened oil," Mets explains. "It consists of a thickener and oil. In the past, almost all greases were based on lithium. That's actually a compromise, because lithium doesn't excel at anything. You can use it pretty much everywhere, though. In hydraulic engineering and other wet conditions, we prefer to recommend calcium or calcium sulfonate complex greases. They are extremely water-resistant and high load-bearing, and therefore also suitable for pins and bushings that go under water. We are also very successful with these in offshore. It requires up to 30 percent less grease and has better wear resistance. But again, this requires knowledge, of the application, of the machine, of the range of application. Based on that, we select or develop the best product to lubricate smarter, with lower consumption, which leads to lower costs, longer life, less wear and it's better for the environment."

EU Ecolabel

Rijkswaterstaat is a great advocate of applying products with an EU Ecolabel, Mets knows. "Such a label places high demands on a lubricant. Not only is biodegradability considered, but also ecotoxicity and bioaccumulation. The latter says something about the accumulation of chemicals in living organisms. Furthermore, it must not cause a film on the surface of the water, like the "rainbow" created when conventional oil is spilled, and even technical applicability is described in the EU Ecolabel. It must be "fit for purpose," or fit for purpose. At Van Meeuwen, we have a wide range of products with EU Ecolabel available, also specifically for drives with open gears in engineering works. Think of greases for gear racks at lock gates or barriers between fresh and salt water. The latter not only places high demands on water resistance, but also on anti-corrosion properties. Biodegradable products with EU Ecolabel are also available for steel cables that require relubrication, both for dusty conditions and greases for cables used under water."

If Van Meeuwen Lubrication cannot source a product from one of its suppliers, they make the formulation and recipe list themselves, and have the biodegradable alternative produced by third parties. "For example, we recently developed a series of greases for lubricating open gears in saltwater conditions," Mets gives as an example. "These Green Point® greases are designed to perform in the harshest marine conditions. Thanks to its strong adhesive properties, it protects against corrosion, resists washout by water and ensures smooth operation under heavy loads. And so we manage to surprise our clients every time with the performance and unmatched longevity of biodegradable products."