Sustainability and the lubes industry

1 Could you take us through your career journey in the lubricants industry?

I was offered a position at Statoil Lubricant in 1998, my first job directly after receiving my Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. I did not know much about that business, but I thought I would try it. And here I am, 26 years later!

2 What has been one of your most fulfilling experiences in your career in the lubricants industry?

We had many great customer projects right from the start. One was on early versions of what we now would call sustainable lubricants. Back then, we focused on readily biodegradable lubricants for total loss applications, such as mobile hydraulic fluids for mechanized forestry and agriculture. Through successful multistakeholder involvement, we could identify issues and agree on the way forward. Transparency and cooperation were vital.

3 Can you tell us about your involvement in training the next generation of lubricant specialists?

When I look back at my education journey and transformation from a university graduate to someone with valuable skills in a development lab, I always send a thought of thankfulness to all those who went before, who were my patient teachers in the lab, in the blending plant, at our suppliers, and in the end; the customers. Any senior person with a role of responsibility; thus, must make sure that they pay back what was once given to the new upcoming generation. A rich inheritance of experience must be taught, transmitted, and handed over. This is something I gladly do! I am involved in training internally at Nynas, universities, and schools to spread the knowledge and inspire.

Due to increased electricity needs, demand for lubricants used in wind turbines, hydropower, and nuclear power generation will continue to grow. E-mobility will continue spreading, gradually diminishing the demand for engine oils. This will however be a long and slow process.

4 What do you think will be the next big thing in the field of Tribology in the coming years?

The megatrends of electrification and digitalization mean that even more attention will be paid to the tribology of electrified systems like hybrid transmission lines and high-power electrical motors.

5 You have been at Nynas for over a decade and are also involved in developing some of its products made using renewable materials; what has enabled Nynas to achieve this success?

I would say that a good combination of technical skills, market outlook understanding, and a clear sense of thought leadership creates fertile ground for new and disruptive ideas and product innovation.

6 Nynas is big on Naphthenic products; what is the difference between naphthenic and paraffinic products?

All types of base oils contain different amounts of molecular structures or carbon types that are called paraffinic, naphthenic, or aromatic. Depending on the relative ratios of these, a base oil will be called aromatic, naphthenic, or paraffinic. So, it is a question of degree difference rather than these being chemically totally different. As a naphthenic refiner, we would select a crude that is different from a fuel refiner, for example. The finished base oils differ in many ways; for example, the solvency is much higher in a naphthenic base oil than in a paraffinic base oil of the same viscosity. In general, Group I paraffinic base oils are closer to naphthenic base oils property-wise, and Group III and Polyalphaolefins (PAOs) are more different.

7 Looking at the electrical industry, what are some of the unique requirements in terms of lubrication?

In the electrical industry, special transformer oils are utilized. These are dielectric fluids that provide electrical insulation and thermal cooling in addition to lubrication. There are some types of moving parts in mechanical switches that need to be sufficiently well lubricated. But the stringent requirement on low electrical conductivity precludes the usage of almost all the typical oil additives we love using in all other lubricants! Thus, the transformer oils must be kept clean and dry across the whole value chain from production to delivery to a power transformer at a site fill.

All types of base oils contain different amounts of molecular structures or carbon types that are called paraffinic, naphthenic, or aromatic. Depending on the relative ratios of these, a base oil will be called aromatic, naphthenic, or paraffinic.

Electrification of industries and transportation value chains is picking up speed, as this is the favored route to achieve decarbonization on a massive scale.

8 As a member of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), how does the organization contribute to the betterment of the lubricants industry?

STLE has several vital roles. It is a hub for technical expertise and the source of important technical publications. It hosts networking events, conferences, training, and more. Through interactions, members are inspired, guided, and given answers. This is a very useful aid to anyone in the industry, especially a newcomer. Iwould strongly recommend getting a membership!

9 Sustainability has become a big topic in the lubricants industry. How would you rate the strides being made and efforts being made to achieve this?

The rate of change in the last few years has been quite impressive. Sustainability was a small specialty. Only five years ago, very few people in the company would work actively with sustainability issues, tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and reporting on specific product application development. By now, as large and mid-size companies are required to make yearly sustainability reports, it is suddenly becoming a requirement for many roles across a company. Sustainability is utilized actively in marketing, auditing, and certification through different eco-labels and as a core input into product design.

10 What is the outlook for business growth in the areas of base oils and transformer oils? Could you also comment on the impact of E-mobility on the future of transformer oils?

Electrification of industries and transportation value chains is picking up speed, as this is the favored route to achieve decarbonization on a massive scale. This requires a substantial investment in the electrical grid, which means a more significant demand for transformer oils. For electrical generation needs, lubricants for wind turbines, hydropower, and nuclear power will continue to grow. E-mobility will continue to grow, gradually diminishing the demand for engine oils. But this is a long and slow process. Lubricants will continue to be critical for all types of technology, and the opportunities are many! . .