Working fluids for a low global warming potential (GWP) refrigeration system comprising a compressor. The working fluid may comprise (a) a lubricating oil component comprising (i) at least one aromatic ester comprising the reaction product of an aromatic hydrocarbon having at least one carboxylic functional group and an (mono)alkylalcohol and/or glycol ether; and (b) a refrigerant.

Provided is a method of lubricating a sliding part by applying a lubricating base oil containing an ester compound to the sliding part. The ester compound contains a mixture of one or more compounds represented by a general formula (1) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent a hydrogen, a methyl, a benzoyloxy, a naphthoyloxy, or general formula (2) (OC(O)R.sup.5), R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent a benzoyloxy group, a naphthoyloxy group, or general formula (2), and R.sup.5 represents a linear C5-21 alkyl group, a branched chain C9-21 alkyl group, or a C5-21 cycloalkyl group that may also be substituted with an alkyl chain. The mixture contains a compound in which at least one among R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 is general formula (2), and the proportion, in the mixture, of a compound in which at least one among R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 is a benzoyloxy group or a naphthoyloxy group is 5-100 mole %.

A composition including one or more benzoate monoester compounds represented by the formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV) and (V) as defined herein. The composition has a viscosity (K.sub.V100) from about 1 cSt to about 10 cSt at 100 C. as determined by ASTM D445, a viscosity index (VI) from about 100 to about 300 as determined by ASTM D2270, and a Noack volatility of no greater than 50 percent as determined by ASTM D5800. A process for producing the composition, a lubricating oil base stock and lubricating oil containing the composition, and a method for improving one or more of thermal and oxidative stability, solubility and dispersancy of polar additives, deposit control and traction control in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing the composition.

Disclosed are metal cleaning formulations and methods of use. A formulation of the present teachings comprises one or more furoate esters such as ethyl 5-methyl-2-furoate and methyl 5-methyl-2-furoate. The formulations further comprise a base oil, which can be, for example, a naphthenic oil, a synthetic oil or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a formulation can further comprise a metal protection additive and a lubrication additive. A variety of base oils, metal protection additives, and lubrication additives are suitable for use in the present teachings. Formulations of the present teachings are especially useful for the cleaning of metal products such as firearms. The cleaning power of a formulation of the instant teachings can exceed that required for US Military Specifications.

A lubricating oil composition prepared by blending a base oil (A) containing a compound (A1) that is an ester or ether and has two or more aromatic rings, with a polyalkylene glycol (B) is provided. The lubricating oil composition has a high density (i.e., a high bulk modulus), a high viscosity index, and excellent shear stability.

A method for improving wear control, while maintaining or improving energy efficiency, in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with a lubricating oil, by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil includes at least one lubricating oil base stock having one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula:

R1-(A).sub.m-Y(B).sub.nR2

wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon, alkoxy or alkylthio group having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, CH2-CH2-, CHCH, OCOO, CO, CSO, CSS, CS, O, S, SO, SO2-, CH2O, OCH2O, NO, ONO2, or CN; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricating oil base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 200 cSt at 40 C., and 1 cSt to 25 cSt at 100 C. Also, this disclosure relates to low traction/energy efficient liquid crystal base stocks containing liquid crystals.

A composition for enhanced heat transfer fluid performance. The composition includes at least one base heat transfer fluid. The at least one base heat transfer fluid undergoes one or more phase changes in a heat transfer process. The heat transfer process includes a heated zone and/or a cooled zone. The one or more phase changes increase heat removal from the heated zone and/or increase heat rejection in the cooled zone, as compared to heat removal from a heated zone and/or heat rejection in a cooled zone of a heat transfer process having a base heat transfer fluid that does not undergo one or more phase changes. The base heat transfer fluids can exhibit liquid crystal behavior (e.g., heat transfer fluids having nematic, smectic or discotic liquid crystals). A method for conducting heat transfer in a heating and/or cooling system using the compositions comprising the base heat transfer fluids.

A method for improving friction and wear control, while maintaining or improving energy efficiency, in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with a lubricating oil, by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil has a composition including at least one lubricating oil base stock. The at least one lubricating oil base stock includes one or more liquid crystals, wherein the one or more liquid crystals are represented by the formula:

A(R1).sub.n

wherein A is a mono-ring or a multi-ring aromatic group, R1 is the same or different and is a substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon, alkoxy, or alkylthio group having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, and n is a value from 1 to 12. The lubricating oil base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 200 cSt at 40 C., as determined according to ASTM D445, and a kinematic viscosity of 1 cSt to 25 cSt at 100 C., as determined according to ASTM D445.

Provided is a lubricant base stock, a lubricating oil including the lubricant base stock and a method for improving viscosity temperature performance or viscosity index of an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with the lubricating oil. The lubricant base stock includes one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula:

R1-(A).sub.m-Y(B).sub.nR2

wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl or alkoxy group having from 0 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, CH2-CH2-, CHCH, CC, OCOO, COO, CO, CSO, CSS, CS, O, S, SO, SO2-, CH2O, OCH2O, NO, ONO2, COOH, OH, or CN; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 28 cSt at 40 C., and 1 cSt to 12 cSt at 100 C.

A bearing grease composition contains a (A) thickener and a (B) base oil, in which the (A) thickener is a urea thickener represented by a formula (I) below, and, in observation of a transmission image in the bearing grease composition, a transmission-image-area ratio of an aggregation part having a transmission image area exceeding 40 m.sup.2 in the urea thickener is 15% or less relative to a total observation area.
R.sup.1NHCONHR.sup.2NHCONHR.sup.3(I) In the formula, R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 each independently represent: an (a1) monovalent chain hydrocarbon group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms; an (a2) monovalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; and the like, and R.sup.2 represents an (a4) divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms.