Polyalphaolefins (PAOs)
PAOs are specially designed chemicals that are uniquely made from alpha olefins. These stable molecules are produced by:
- Steam cracking hydrocarbons to produce ultra high-purity ethylene
- Ethylene oligomerization to develop 1-decene and 1-dodecene
- Decene or dodecene oligomerization to form a mixture of dimers, trimers, tetramers and higher oligomers
PAOs have many advantages over mineral oils:
- Greater oxidative stability
- Superior volatility
- Excellent low-temperature viscosities
- Consistent, quality basestock
- Extremely high viscosity index
- Excellent pour points
- Pure petrochemical feedstocks
Applications