Reusing Exhausted vegetable Oils for lubricating Bolts and Threaded joints in the Automotive Industry
REOBTAIN enhances exhausted cooking oil by transforming it into high-performance, low-toxicity lubricants designed for bolted joints subjected to vibrations. Focusing on boundary lubrication regimes, the bio-based formulations ensure low friction, high resistance to self-loosening, and stable behavior in multiple tightening cycles, offering a credible alternative to mineral lubricants and contributing to the goals of the circular economy. In application-oriented tests that replicated real assembly conditions, the main formulation demonstrated excellent anti-loosening performance without the use of solid lubricant additives, supporting reliable torque–tension control and reduced wear.
Around the product, partners can access practical services: customized formulation and blending starting from used cooking oils; application engineering to define friction windows and tightening procedures; standardized self-loosening tests for qualification; and training for industrial implementation. As a complementary tool, a nonlinear ultrasonic method is available for non-destructive and periodic checks of the joint condition; highly innovative, it has the potential to open new scenarios for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), enabling inline checks, life cycle tracking, and early detection of loosening.
The main beneficiaries are automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, with clear application possibilities also in the railway, heavy vehicle, wind energy, and general mechanics sectors. By converting waste into premium lubricants and improving joint reliability, REOBTAIN offers concrete advantages in terms of performance, costs, and environmental impact.
