GS Caltex, a major base oil refiner and finished lubricant manufacturer based in South Korea, has partnered with Aekyung Chemical, a domestic manufacturer of basic organic chemicals, to localize the production of refrigeration oils for home appliances, which have been heavily dependent on imported products. 

Refrigeration oils are used in air conditioning systems and compressors that use refrigerants. Compatibility is important because refrigeration oils are circulated together with refrigerants. Thermochemical stability, low flow points, viscosity, insulation performance, and suitability with organic materials are required. GS Caltex and Aekyung Chemical have completed a patent application for their refrigeration oil.

Aekyung Chemical described its product as a next-generation refrigeration oil that meets global regulations due to its high miscibility with difluoromethane (HFC-32), an eco-friendly refrigerant that does not harm the ozone layer.

“With the localization of refrigeration oils, we will expand our research and business scope to various fields such as the development of eco-friendly base oils,” according to Aekyung Chemical. 

There is a growing need in the domestic market for eco-friendly refrigerants to cope with global regulations. Aekyung Chemical said it would broaden the scope of its business to eco-friendly base oils and push for the localization of related technologies consistent with its cooperation with GS Caltex. 

Aekyung Chemical Co. Limited is the result of the merger of three companies in 2021: Aekyung Petrochemical, AK ChemTech and Aekyung Chemical. The company produces esters, which is used both as a base oil and and an additive for high-performance industrial and specialty lubricants. Aekyung Chemical’s AKLUB-Series offers world-class production capabilities and specialized solutions tailored to specific needs.