Naphthenic Oils Review

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Naphthenic Oils Review

Naphthenic oils. In contrast to paraffinic oils, naphthenic oils are distinguished by a molecular structure composed of rings of hydrocarbons, i.e., the hydrogen and carbon atoms are linked in a circular pattern.

These oils do not contain wax and behave differently than paraffinic oils. Naphthenic oils have:

  • Good stability.
  • Lower pour point due to absence of wax.
  • Lower viscosity indexes.
  • Higher volatility (lower flash point).
  • Higher specific gravities.

Naphthenic oils are generally reserved for applications with narrow temperature ranges and where a low pour point is required.