Algae Oil Sulfurized Extreme Pressure Additives Present Promising Alternatives to Lard Oils and Vegetable Oils in Lubricating Oils, Metalworking Fluids, and Greases—Delivering New, More Sustainable Raw Materials for Growing Automotive and Electric Vehicle Maker Demands

Global metalworking fluid, grease, and lubricating oil manufacturers, notably those seeking to deliver new, more sustainable lubricants produced using renewable base oils or high-quality additives for the automotive and electric vehicle (EV) industries, can anticipate new high-performance, environmentally minded vegetable-type extreme pressure lubricant additives (EP additives) developed by DIC Corporation (DIC).

As DIC’s newest light-colored sulfurized triglyceride mixtures are now in the testing phase, the algae oil-based DAILUBE^TM  KS-519 sulfurized EP additives are well-positioned to deliver outstanding performances while also helping lubricant oil manufacturers and automotive and EV makers reduce carbon emissions, waste, and water use, paving the way for improving their overall environmental footprints and contributing to even greater sustainability scores.

Hironobu Matsueda, a chemical industry expert on EP additives and DIC KS-519 product development team leader will attend the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) 78th STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition, May 19 – 23, 2024, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

There, DIC looks forward to meeting with representatives of global lubricant suppliers producing automotive lubricants, industrial lubricants, lubricating greases, and metal processing lubricants, dailube_sustainable@ma.dic.co.jp for testing in their lubricant oil formulations, or on machine parts, gears, or bearings.

Matsueda notes, “With the rise of EVs, we expect higher demand for larger automobile parts, increasing press processing and creating more demand for sulfurized oils. Here, we believe KS-519 offers higher performance than conventional sulfurized oils and provides greater sustainability than vegetable-based oils.”

“KS-519 also benefits cutting oil processes by reducing energy usage. Manufacturers prefer using low-viscosity lubricating oils for cutting processes, as lubricants must spread to each corner during machining. Neither sulfurized lard nor other high-viscosity types are suitable. Manufacturers often use products with medium viscosity or lower (40°C dynamic viscosity: 400 mm2/s or lower), making KS-519 an ideal solution.”

Leveraging Checkerspot Biotechnology for Commercial Algae Oil Production

A key collaborator in DIC’s movement toward using more renewables and promoting circular economy solutions, the rapidly rising biotechnology pioneer Checkerspot is using its proprietary WING® Platform to supply 100% biobased, algae-derived lubrication inputs that surpass the performance properties of other EP additives on the market, once again demonstrating that sacrificing performance for sustainability is a false choice.

Checkerspot CEO and Co-founder Charles Dimmler says, “We’re excited to work with DIC to commercialize the world’s first algae oil-based high-performance sulfurized EP additive. DAILUBE™ KS-519 demonstrates performance needn’t be compromised by sustainability. It’s inspiring to witness a leader in the lubricant market so committed to both innovation and sustainability.”

Checkerspot CSO and Co-founder Scott Franklin added, “The scale of this opportunity and the potential volumes of oil associated with it once again underscores microalgae’s incredible potential to deliver high-performance, cost-effective, market-ready solutions. These new algae oil-based EP additives also present another opportunity to show the world that algae fermentation, utilizing Brazilian sugarcane co-located with the plant, delivers a more sustainable method for producing triglyceride oils. This collaboration with DIC will showcase these performance benefits to a broader audience hungry for sustainable, high-performance lubricants with reduced carbon footprints.”

Algae Oil-Based EP Additives Poised to Promote Sustainability

 KS-519 is projected to deliver higher performance than all vegetable oil-based alternatives—a solution in high demand, notably in the European Union and North America, where environmental regulations already impact major industry player operations. Initial testing performed by DIC customers is delivering very promising results, where KS-519 demonstrates very high lubricity scores, on par with darker, lard-based oils, yet possessing the light color and lower viscosity and odor common to vegetable oil-based formulations.

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About DIC Corporation

One of the world’s leading fine chemicals manufacturers and the core of the DIC Group—a multinational with over 190 subsidiaries, including Sun Chemical, in over 60 countries and territories—DIC is a global leader in products essential to modern life, from packaging materials and TV/PC display materials to high-performance materials for smartphones and other digital devices and automobiles. With annual sales of over one trillion yen and 22,000+ employees worldwide working together with customers everywhere, DIC delivers safety and peace of mind, contributing to a sustainable society with innovative products that respond to social change and social imperatives.

About Checkerspot

At Checkerspot, we make renewable oils at a commercial scale for performance materials and ingredients. We innovate at the intersection of biotechnology and materials science to deliver solutions for better products that empower both Fortune 500 companies and small businesses to achieve their decarbonization targets. Our portfolio of materials and ingredients is commercialized in three markets: industrial materials, personal care, and food and nutrition. As a Certified B Corporation™, we believe a post-petroleum future is possible by demonstrating how biomanufactured products can deliver performance and sustainability at the right price, driving profitability for our customers and partners. To learn more, visit us at checkerspot.com.