Types of Hydraulic Fluids and Their Properties

The most common hydraulic fluid is petroleum-based oil with additives to improve lubrication, reduce foaming and inhibit rust.

The characteristics or properties of petroleum-based hydraulic fluids mainly depend on crude oil used, the degree of refining and additives used.

With a proper degree of refining and correct additives, it exhibits the following advantages.

1. It has excellent lubricity.
2. It has a higher demuslibility.
3. Good oxidation resistance.
4. Compatible with most sealing materials.

Disadvantages of petroleum-based hydraulic fluid

The main disadvantage of these oils is that they are combustible. Hence, they cannot be used in an environment where there is a risk of fire.

Due to fire hazards, the use of these oils is limited to applications where leakage, etc. could not raise a fire hazard. For example, petroleum-based oils are not used in coal mines, die casting machines, etc. where the fire could be a serious hazard.

Commonly used petroleum-based hydraulic oils are Pennsylvania or Paraffin base oil, Nephthenic or Gulf coast base oils and mixed base ( containing both paraffin and nephthenic) oils.

Water has ideal fire resistance when water is combined with certain oils, the combination is fire resistance.

There are two water-based hydraulic fluids

1. Water oil emulsion
2. Water glycols

Water oil emulsion

Emulsion type fluids are the least expensive fire resistance fluids. They contain about 35.40% water and remaining oil.

Hence, all the water droplets are covered with oil; hence oil is the continuous phase. In addition to oil, it contains emulsifiers, stabilizers, and other additives to hold the two liquids together.

Another water-based hydraulic fluid is a water-glycol mix. This consists of about 40% water, glycol plus additives to improve viscosity, inhibit foaming and prevent rust to which water-based fluids are vulnerable.

1. Due to the presence of water, they are fire-resistant.
2. They are compatible with seals hoses and packing materials used for petroleum-based oils.
3. They exhibit better cooling ability.

Disadvantages of water-based fluids

1. The low operating temperature of not more than 50-degree Celcius to avoid evaporation and oxidation.
2. A regular check is required to compensate for the loss of water due to evaporation, to maintain the correct oil-water ratio.
3. Leather, asbestos, and cork impregnated materials should be avoided since they absorb water.
4. In the case of water-oil emulsion, phase separation can occur.
5. Viscosity decreases as the water content are reduced and hence changes in oil performance.
6. Evaporation causes the loss of certain additives which in turn reduces the life of the fluid.

Synthetic fluids

Synthetic fluids are laboratory synthesized chemicals, which are flammable than petroleum oils. Typical synthetics are,

1. Phosphate esters
2. Chlorinated hydrocarbons

Since the synthetics do not contain any water or volatile material, they operate well at high temperatures without the loss of any essential elements. They are also suitable at high pressure.

Synthetic type fluids do not operate best in low-temperature systems, the auxiliary heater may be required in a cold environment.

1. Synthetic fluids are non-flammable and can be used at high temperatures also.
2. Synthetic fluids are also suitable for high-pressure applications.
3. Synthetic fluids are available in lower ranges of viscosity. This feature makes it suitable for precision motion applications.
4. Replenishing fluids can be added directly without regard for changing the viscosity or other properties, as in case of water-based fluids.

Disadvantages of Synthetic Fluid

1. Synthetic fluids do not operate at low temperatures, to make these fluids work at low-temperature additional oil heaters are to be added in the tank.
2. Synthetic fluids are the most expensive forms of hydraulic oil.
3. Synthetic fluids have high densities, which limit the height allowed between the tank and the pump inlet without cavitation to occur.

We have discussed the types of hydraulic fluids above. Now we will see the Properties of hydraulic fluid.

Following are the important desirable properties of hydraulic fluids:

1. Viscosity
2. Viscosity index
3. Demulsibility
4. Lubricity
5. Resistance to oxidation
6. Resistance to foaming
7. Compatibility
8. Pour point
9. Flashpoint

All the above properties of hydraulic fluids mentioned are discussed briefly in the Desirable properties of Hydraulic fluids.