What are Pour Point Depressants?

Pour point depressants, also known as PPDs, are additives that are added to lubricants such as engine oils, transmission fluids, hydraulic fluids, and greases. They act by lowering the pour point temperature of the base oil or finished lubricant. Pour point is the lowest temperature at which a fluid will flow or can be poured, and it is an important indicator of the fluid's cold weather or low-temperature performance characteristics. PPDs work by modifying the wax crystallization behavior of the lubricant.

How do Pour Point Work?

All lubricants contain waxes, which are necessary components for viscosity control and other properties. However, as temperature decreases, these waxes tend to crystallize and form highly rigid networks that inhibit flow. Pour Point Depressants function by interfering with the formation of these wax crystals and delaying the point where flow becomes restricted. They do this by dispersing the wax particles to prevent them from packing together into solid clumps. The PPDs adsorb to the growing crystal edges or change their crystal habit/structure so wax crystallization occurs at a lower temperature than normal. This keeps the wax crystallization process under control and prevents solidification down to much lower pour points.

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