Thermal and oxidative stability of fluorinated alkyl aryl ethers

A series of compounds composed of hydrocarbon aryl components and fluorinated alkyl components joined by ether linkages were developed for evaluation as high performance lubricants. Thermal and oxidative stability of these compounds were evaluated. The basic molecular structure was shown to be highly durable against high temperature, even in air, which is an indispensable property if it is to be suitable as base stock for high performance lubricants. However, thermal and oxidative stability decreased when hydrogen atoms were present on carbons adjacent to benzene rings, especially in the case of the carbon at the center of the compound, which is adjacent to two benzene rings.