Nu-Calgon Product Bulletin 3-68

• The industry’s choice of a fully formulated Refrigeration Oils

polyol ester lubricant
Emkarate® RL Lubricants
• Most OEM approved, recognizable POE
lubricant in the market
• Some approvals: RL32-3MAF/RL68HB for
Copeland, Caryle’s RL68H, and RL85HB
for Bitzer
• For HCFC, HFC, HFO, hydrocarbon and CO2
refrigerants
• Compatible with mineral oils,
alkylbenzenes, PVE and PAG lubricants
• RL68HB and RL85HB for subcritical and
transcritical CO2 applications
• Full line-up types and package sizes for
market needs

Description Critical issues

The Emkarate family of lubricants is a wide range of Additives vs Non-Additives. The preference is to specify
polyol ester refrigeration oil products. They are designed lubricants that do not contain additives, as they are not
specifically for use with HFC refrigerants, now HFC/HFO needed in the majority of cases using properly formulated
blends, HFO, hydrocarbon and CO2 refrigerants developed base lubricants. Experiences such as decreased lubricant
to meet the performance demands of the refrigeration stability, sludge formation, and component deposits, are
industry. This superior performance is achieved with concerns related to the use of additives. At the same time, it
basefluids that are specifically formulated to deliver is understood that additives can also enhance performance
optimum performance with minimal additive levels. in certain particularly demanding applications may be
necessary, such as CO2 systems.
Application
Miscibility. Since some lubricant will travel with the
The requirements of today’s refrigeration and air
refrigerant in any air conditioning or refrigeration system,
conditioning compressor lubricants are complex. They
it is imperative that they be fully miscible and soluble
must be compatible and miscible with the HFC refrigerants
with one another…at all temperatures that the system will
and newer refrigerant options, and they must be compatible
experience. This ensures good oil return and lubricity to
and miscible with the older refrigerants, such as HCFCs, as
the compressor, and no blockage or loss of heat transfer in
well as mineral and alkylbenzene oils. Polyol ester lubricants
the evaporator. In traditional systems, the HCFC refrigerant
meet these needs, and the EMKARATE RL line is the
is miscible and soluble with the mineral or alkylbenzene
preferred industry choice. Working in close collaboration
oil. On the other hand, if these oils and an HFC refrigerant
with compressor and system manufacturers, these OEM-
are mixed, they are mutually immiscible and essentially
approved POE lubricants cover a wide viscosity range
insoluble. They will separate into two distinct phases in
from 7 cSt (35-40 SUS) to 220 cSt (1100 SUS) to suit most
the evaporator and the oil will coat the inside of the tubes,
applications. The lubricants have excellent thermal and
resulting in a loss of heat transfer and potentially a lack of
chemical stability, and are compatible with a wide range
lubrication in the compressor.
of elastomers, polymeric materials and other materials of
construction. Additionally, then higher viscosity index is HFC refrigerants and POE lubricants are fully miscible and
an indication that their effective viscosity will not change have high mutual solubility. As a result, POE lubricants are
drastically with the wide swings in temperature seen by the proper choice when using today’s HFC refrigerants and
most typical refrigeration and air conditioning systems. the lubricant often selected with the newer choices in the
They are the preferred choice for servicing and retrofitting market.
existing equipment as well as for OEM charging.

2008 Altom Ct. • St. Louis, MO 63146 • 800-554-5499 • www.nucalgon.com

Calgon is a licensed trade name • (1117) 3-68
Blending Different POE Brands Moisture
Compressor manufacturers often approve several Hygroscopicity is the term used to describe a lubricant’s
lubricants for use in a particular compressor application. affinity for moisture, and POEs are known to be
Part of the process of approving them is the understanding hygroscopic. They absorb water more quickly than mineral
that the approved oils may end up being blended with or alkylbenzene oils from the surrounding environment. For
each other in a system. The blending of approved oils is this reason, care should be exercised during the servicing
most acceptable. When in doubt, consult the compressor of equipment charged with or about to be charged with a
manufacturer. polyol ester.
There are two main types of POE oils currently approved for At the same time, if acceptable packaging and good
use in refrigeration compressor applications: unaddivated service procedures are used and care is exercised in the
POEs and formulated POEs which may contain up to 3% handling of the oil, moisture should not be a problem. If
additives. the container of the POE is metal and it is tightly sealed
When two unaddivated lubricants are mixed, the after each use, no serious ingress of moisture should
performance of the resulting blend is between the occur to unused oil. In addition, the use of the appropriate
performance of the separate lubricants. So long as the filter-driers and proper service practices will result in the
lubricants are approved, the resulting mixture should effective control and removal of moisture. In fact, since
be suitable. However, when a non-additized lubricant is HFCs effectively compete with the POE for any moisture
blended with an additized lubricant, some decrease in the present (i.e. water moves from the oil to the refrigerant), the
performance of the additive may be seen since the additive moisture will be more easily removed from the refrigerant
dose rate of the formulated lubricant will be diluted by the by the filter-driers in the refrigerant-rich environment in the
unaddivated lubricant. This can be especially problematic liquid and/or suction line.
for formulated oils containing foaming agents as these
agents tend to be very dose-rate sensitive. Care should be
taken and the OEM consulted for advice.

TYPICAL PROPERTIES
PROPERTY AND RL RL RL RL RL RL RL RL RL RL RL RL RL RL
PROCEDURE 22H 32-3MAF 32H* 32HB 46H 68H 68HB 68HP* 85HB 100H 100E 170H 220H+ 220XL

Viscosity @ 40°C
19.3 31.2 32.5 32.5 46.8 68.3 68.3 67.1 84.1 98.5 100 170 220 220
(cSt), ASTM D-445

Viscosity @ 100°C
4.2 5.6 5.8 5.8 7.3 9.5 9.5 9.2 10.6 11.4 12.0 17.0 19.0 19.0
(cSt), ASTM D-445

Typical SUS Viscosity

100 150 150 150 200 300 300 300 425 500 500 850 1100 1100
@ 100°F

Viscosity Index,
124 125 121 121 118 122 122 114 110 103 120 107 97 97
ASTM D-2270

Pour Point (°C),

-57 -40 -55 -46 -48 -39 -39 -39 -39 -31 -20 -25 -30 -30
ASTM D-97

Density @ 20°C (g/

0.99 0.981 0.977 0.980 0.978 0.977 0.977 0.980 0.979 0.969 0.970 0.968 0.980 0.980
ml), ASTM D-1298

Flash Point (COC) (°C),

260 240 264 264 260 270 270 270 273 265 230 290 300 300
ASTM D-92

Acid Value (mgKOH/g),

0.02 <0.05 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 <0.05 0.02 0.02 <0.05 0.02 <0.05 <0.05
ASTM D-974 modified

Water Content (ppm),

<50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50 <50
ASTM E 1064-85

Refractive Index @
1.4519 1.4540 1.4530 1.4540 1.4540 1.4557 1.4566 1.4566 1.4590 1.4574 1.4574 1.4590 1.4580 1.4580
28°C

Viscosity Designations: 3MAF = Copeland Formulation; H = High Solubility; N = HP & HC = Special for Carrier Internally Geared Chillers
 Approval Chart for Emkarate POE Lubricants
Company Compressor Type POE Lubricant Type
Bitzer Reciprocating (M) RL32H
Reciprocating (H) RL68H
Reciprocating (CO2) RL85HB
Screw RL170H
Blissfield Reciprocating (M) RL32H
Reciprocating RL68H
Bock Reciprocating RL22H, RL32H
Reciprocating RL46H, RL68H, RL100H
Boeing Service (Aerospace) RL68H
Carlyle, Reciprocating (Marine Containers) RL22H
Carrier, Centrifugal (17DA & 17EA) RL32H
Transicold Centrifugal (17MPS & 17FA) RL68H
Centrifugal (17EX, 19EA, EB, FA, 19XL/XT, 19EX, 19XR/XRT) RL68HP
Centrifugal (17EX, 17FA with external gears, 17MPS) RL68H
Reciprocating (05G, 5K, 5F, 5H, 06D, 06E, 06CC) RL68H
Screw (05TR, 06TR, 06TA) RL100E
Screw (23XL, 23XG, 30GX, 30HX) RL220XL
Carrier Toyo Reciprocating RL68H
Centrifugal RL68HP
Screw (06NF, 06NH) RL220H+
Carrier/Transicold Scroll RL32-3MAF
Copeland Reciprocating RL32-3MAF, , RL68HB (transcritical CO2)
Screw RL170H
Scroll RL32-3MAF, RL68HB (subcritical CO2)
Dalin Bingshaw Reciprocating RL32H
Screw RL170H
Danfoss Commercial Scroll (SZ, MFZ and LFZ) RL32H
(Maneurop) Reciprocating (LTZ and NTZ) RL32H
Dorin Reciprocating RL22H, RL32H, RL46H, RL68H
Dunham Bush Reciprocating (D-B Metic and D Line) RL32H, RL68H
Screw RL68H
Frascold Reciprocating RL32H, RL68H
Screw RL170H
Frigopol Reciprocating (60-DLB-13 to 80-DLB-30) RL32H
Grasso Reciprocating RL32H, RL68H
Screw RL100E, RL220H+
Hanbel Screw (RA, RB and V Series) RL170H, RL220H
Hartford Reciprocating RL32H, RL68H
Screw RL220H+, 120 POE (See Nu-Calgon)
HISPACOLD Reciprocating RL68H
Jiangsu Xuemei Reciprocating RL22H, RL32H
Kobelco Screw RL220H+
Lockheed Martin Lockheed Compressors RL68H
Daikin McQuay Centrifugal RL32H
(J&E Hall) Screw RL68H, RL68HP, RL100E
Screw RL100E, RL220H+
 Approval Chart for Emkarate POE Lubricants
Company Compressor Type POE Lubricant Type
MayeKawa (Mycom) Screw RL100E, RL100H
Reciprocating RL68H, RL100E, RL100H
NATO NSN 6850-P4314-H RL32H
Military NSN NSN 9150-99-870-1432 RL32HB
NSN 9150-01-443-9390 RL46H
NSN 9150-01-443-9396 RL46H
NSN 9150-01-435-1899 RL68H
NSN 9150-01-410-8972 RL68H
NSN 9150-01-387-4469 RL68H
Prestcold Reciprocating RL32-3MAF
Refcomp Reciprocating RL32H, RL68H
Roltec Screw RL46H, RL170H
Royce Reciprocating RL32H
Rotocold Rotary RL100E, RL100H
Sabroe Reciprocating RL32H, RL46H, RL68H
Screw RL68H, RL100E, RL100H, RL170H, RL220H+
Tecumseh Reciprocating RL22H
Thermo King Reciprocating RL32H
Trane Reciprocating RL68H
Screw RL68H
Scroll RL32HB
York Centrifugal Call Nu-Calgon
Reciprocating Call Nu-Calgon
Screw Call Nu-Calgon
Vantanu-Cool Orbital Vane Rotary RL220H+
Yantai Moon Reciprocating RL32H
This approval list should be used as a guide only. Users should confirm with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) which EMKARATE™ RL grade is qualified for use
with a particular combination of compressor model, refrigerant and application. OEM’s advice should always be taken. Only use approved lubricants. On systems calling for
RL32S or RL68S substitute RL32H or RL68H, respectively.
NU-CALGON PART NUMBERS
EMKARATE RL VISCOSITY 1 QUART 1 GALLON 5 GALLON 53 GALLON
22H 100 SUS - 4313-46 - -
32H 150 SUS 4314-44 4314-46 4314-45 4314-41
32HB 150 SUS - - 4314-62 -
32-3MAF 150 SUS 4314-64 4314-66 4314-65 4314-67
46H 200 SUS - 4315-46 - 4315-41
68H 300 SUS 4316-44 4316-46 4316-45 4316-41
68HB 300 SUS - 4316-86 4316-85 -
68HP 300 SUS - 4316-76 - -
85HB 425 SUS - 4316-91 - -
100H 500 SUS - 4317-46 - 4316-71
100E 500 SUS - 4317-66 - 4317-61
170H 850 SUS - 4318-26 4318-25 4318-21
220H+ 1100 SUS - 4318-66 4318-65 4318-61
220XL 1100 SUS - - 4318-75 -
Read and understand the product’s label and Safety Data Sheet (“SDS”) for precautionary and first aid information. The SDS is available on the Nu-Calgon website at www.nucalgon.com.

2008 Altom Ct. • St. Louis, MO 63146 • 800-554-5499 • www.nucalgon.com

Calgon is a licensed trade name • (1117) 3-68