EP additives (extreme pressure additives) and AW additives (anti-wear additives) are additives used in lubricating oils.
EP additives and AW additives are two different additives, and their main differences lie in their ingredients and uses.
EP additives, extreme pressure anti-wear additives, mainly contain elements such as sulfur, phosphorus, and chlorine, as well as a variety of organic metal compounds, such as alkylphenols, sulfurized olefins, chlorinated alkanes, etc. EP additives are specifically designed to reduce wear and prevent surface damage under extreme pressure and high load conditions. It is mainly used to improve the extreme pressure performance of lubricating oil, that is, to enhance the resistance and wear resistance of lubricating oil under high pressure and high friction conditions. It can also improve the anti-oxidation performance of lubricating oil and reduce the friction coefficient. Therefore, EP additives are often added to lubricating oils to increase the wear resistance and anti-friction properties of the lubricating oil under extreme conditions.
AW additives, namely antioxidant additives, mainly contain organic compounds such as phenols, amines, and esters, as well as a variety of metal salts and metal soaps. It is mainly used to improve the anti-oxidation properties of lubricating oil, that is, to extend the service life of lubricating oil during use and to prevent oxidation and deterioration of lubricating oil under high temperature and high pressure conditions. In addition, AW additives can also improve the anti-foaming properties and reduce viscosity of lubricants. Therefore, AW additives are often added to lubricating oils to increase the service life of the lubricating oil and improve the antioxidant properties of the lubricating oil. AW additives, on the other hand, are used to minimize wear under normal operating conditions by forming a protective film on the metal surface. They work by reducing friction between friction surfaces, thereby extending the life of lubricated components. AW additives often contain compounds such as zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) or other anti-wear agents with excellent anti-wear properties.
To sum up, the main difference between EP additives and AW additives is their different ingredients and uses. EP additives mainly contain elements such as sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and a variety of organic metal compounds, and are mainly used to improve the extreme pressure performance and wear resistance of lubricating oils; while AW additives mainly contain organic compounds such as phenols, amines, esters and A variety of metal salts and metal soaps are mainly used to improve the antioxidant performance and service life of lubricating oil. Therefore, when choosing to use additives, you need to choose the appropriate additive according to the specific situation.
In summary, EP additives are specifically designed to protect against extreme pressure and high load conditions, while AW additives are used for general wear protection under normal operating conditions.