KEYWORDS

Hydraulic Fluids, Plastic Injection Molding, High Viscosity Index

SHORTCUT TO IMPROVED EFFICIENCY - RESEARCH POINTS TO HYDRAULIC FLUID

Fuel economy and improved efficiency are the main drivers for modern equipment design. In view of upcoming emission standards for offhighway vehicles, hydraulic equipment manufacturers must keep pace with new developments. Improving the efficiency of a hydraulic system is attained through optimization of the hydraulic equipment or selecting a higher performance hydraulic fluid. In most applications a combination of both will achieve the maximum performance. In this paper we will focus on the impact of the hydraulic fluid on efficiency. Only in recent years has the industry started to recognize the importance of a careful selection of the hydraulic fluid. In the past decade extensive research based on laboratory studies, rig tests and field tests has been conducted. These tests confirm that significantly improved equipment efficiency is achieved when multi-grade, shearstable hydraulic fluids are used instead of conventional monograde fluids.

AUTHORS

Thomas Schimmel, Evonik Oil Additives USA, Inc., Horsham, PA, Frank-Olaf Mähling and Michaël Alibert, Evonik Industries AG, Darmstadt, Germany