Oil

Oils ( from Latin oleum, from Ancient Greek ἔλαιον, olive oil ') is a collective term for fluids that do not mix with water.

Groups of oils

Greases and oils

Greases and oils ( during sea transport called Süßöl ) are fats, ie mixtures of fatty acid triglycerides which are liquid at room temperature. The low melting range is mainly caused by a high proportion of " unsaturated " or " polyunsaturated " fatty acids.

• Many vegetable oils ( such as linseed oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, safflower oil ) are used among other things as food and are therefore also referred to as edible oils. Even as fuel, see Vegetable oils use, either in the natural state or interesterified form as biodiesel. As binders, they are used in oil inks.

• Animal oils (such as Tran, cod liver oil ) are sometimes used as food and are also similar to vegetable oils used in the chemical industry, eg as a raw material for the production of soaps.

Fatty oils can also be used as a food-acceptable oils in the food industry. Also, they are used as biodegradable alternative to mineral lubricants use, such as for lubrication of saw chains or drive chains in the great outdoors.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are oily, steam-volatile extracts from plants or parts of plants, the origin of the plant have depends a strong, characteristic odor. They consist mainly of terpenes. (Example: lemon oil, rose oil).

Mineral oils

Mineral oils are derived from petroleum or coal and hydrocarbon compounds. Most of the compounds in the mixtures are chemically speaking to the alkanes. The naturally occurring crude oils, however, are usually contaminated and contain, for example sulfur.

Mineral oils are precursors for many compounds of organic chemistry, for example for the production of plastics.

Mineral oils are preferably used as an energy carrier and converted into power and fuel ( refined). Therefore, they represent one of the most important energy sources of our civilization (for example, fuel oil, diesel oil, heavy oil) dar. Next mineral oils are also used for lubricating purposes, that is to keep metal, each moving surfaces so spaced that they do not come in direct wear contact ( lubricating oil ).

Volatile, also derived from petroleum substances such as gasoline or kerosene are not counted among the oils.

So-called synthetic oils are also based on Erdölraffinaten and have a special molecular structure that does not occur as crude oil. There are added synthetically produced hydrocarbons. The assumption that synthetic oils were chemically manufactured and exclusively did not contain naturally occurring substances is therefore incorrect.

Silicone oils

Silicone oils are based on polymers and copolymers of silicon-oxygen units and organic side chains. They are relatively resistant to oxidation, heat or other influences. Besides the use as lubricants in the industry can also be found in personal care products or specific industrial applications ( for example, the defoaming ) use. In chemical laboratories, silicone oil is used as heat transfer fluid.

Applications

• As a lubricant see lubricating oil
• Fuel / fuel: diesel fuel, heating oil
• Manufacturing oil
• Hydraulic fluid
• Solvents: There are many non-polar substances dissolve well in oil. This is used in industrial production processes and in food production.
• Thermal oils are used in heat transfer systems for transferring heat energy used (heat carrier). It is heated in heaters and transported via pipelines to the points at which a product has to be heated. This is done in a closed circuit. The great advantage of thermal oil to water is much higher boiling point. Thus, a temperature of over 300 ° C are reached. Thermal oil can be made from both synthetic oils and organic oils.
• Wave calming oil was used in the shipping industry to reduce the wave action on the high seas.
• Quenching oil is used as a quenching medium in the hardening of metals. Here, the cooling rate is slower than for example with water.

Others

• Under an oils are understood in German-speaking Switzerland and an oil mill.
• Oil and water can be mixed with the use of surfactants (emulsifiers ). They form emulsions. Also, milk is an emulsion of water and oil.
• Greases and oils can be prepared by hydrogenation ( fat hardening ) of the unsaturated fatty acids into solid fats ( margarine) transfer.
• The term "That goes down like oil " refers to the " retirement" of beer, compare Øl Danish or English ale.