Technical Specifications
This grade family is available as 2 CheMost grades — the differences are in the columns below.
| Property | Unit | CA165 | CA265 | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBN | mgKOH/g | 175 | 280 | ASTM D2896 |
| Calcium | % | 6.2 | 10.5 | ASTM D4951 |
| Viscosity at 100°C | mm²/s | 20 | 40 | ASTM D445 |
| Density at 20°C | kg/m³ | 980 | 1060 | ASTM D4052 |
| Flash point | °C | >200 | >200 | ASTM D93 |
| Appearance | Brown red liquid | Brown red liquid | Visual |
* Typical values from batch production. Batch-specific COA available on request.
Technical content reviewed by the CheMost additives team · Specifications last reviewed
Molecular Structure
Supramolecular structure · overbased calcium salicylate
[R–C₆H₃(OH)–COO]₂Ca·(CaCO₃)ᵧ
Overbased calcium alkyl salicylate: a calcium alkylsalicylate surfactant stabilising a calcium-carbonate micellar core that supplies the base-number (TBN) reserve.
What Is Calcium Alkyl Salicylate?
Calcium alkyl salicylate is a high-performance detergent and TBN booster for engine oils — the third major detergent chemistry alongside the calcium sulfonates and phenates. It is made by neutralising and overbasing an alkyl salicylic acid with calcium, giving an oil-soluble hydroxy-aromatic carboxylate surfactant around a calcium-carbonate core. CheMost supplies it in two grades — CA165 (medium base, TBN 175; trade synonym T109A) and CA265 (high base, TBN 280; trade synonym T109B) — set out in the Technical Specifications table above.
What makes the salicylate distinctive is that a single surfactant does several jobs at once. The salicylate soap delivers high-temperature detergency, carries the calcium-carbonate base reserve that neutralises acids, and — because the molecule retains a phenolic hydroxyl group — also contributes oxidation and corrosion resistance. A sulfonate-plus-phenate package needs two surfactant types to cover that ground; the salicylate covers it with one, and does so with a sulphur-free molecule that suits modern low-SAPS oils.
Because it is a strongly polar, thermally stable detergent, calcium alkyl salicylate is favoured for top-tier passenger-car, heavy-duty diesel and marine lubricants where high-temperature cleanliness, long drain intervals and reduced sulphated ash, phosphorus and sulphur are all required at once.
How Calcium Alkyl Salicylate Works
High-temperature detergency
The strongly polar salicylate head adsorbs onto incipient carbon and varnish precursors on hot metal — piston ring grooves, the piston undercrown, the upper ring belt — and keeps them suspended in the oil so they cannot build into lacquer and deposits. Salicylates are noted for excellent piston cleanliness at high temperature.
Acid neutralisation (the TBN reserve)
The overbased calcium-carbonate micelle stabilised by the surfactant is an alkaline reserve that neutralises the acids formed by combustion blow-by and oil oxidation. That reserve is measured as the total base number (TBN) — 175 for CA165 and 280 for CA265 — and is what protects the engine from corrosive wear and base-number depletion over a long drain.
Built-in antioxidancy & anticorrosion
Unlike a sulfonate, the salicylate molecule retains a phenolic hydroxyl group, so besides its detergent role it also inhibits oxidation and protects against corrosion — a second function carried on the same molecule. This supports base-number and viscosity retention over extended service.
Single-surfactant simplicity, sulphur-free
Because one salicylate surfactant provides both cleanliness and base, formulations can be simpler than a sulfonate/phenate combination, and the sulphur-free chemistry helps meet low-SAPS limits. Calcium salicylates can also carry a lower friction coefficient than sulfonates, supporting fuel-economy retention.
Calcium Salicylate vs Sulfonate vs Phenate
The three calcium detergent chemistries are complementary rather than interchangeable. This is where the salicylate sits among CheMost’s detergent range:
| Property | Calcium sulfonate | Calcium phenate | Calcium alkyl salicylate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfactant type | Sulfonic acid salt | Sulfurised alkylphenol salt | Hydroxy-aromatic carboxylate |
| Primary strength | Acid neutralisation / high TBN, low cost | Detergency + antioxidancy (sulphur bridge) | Detergency + base + antioxidancy in one surfactant |
| Sulphur in molecule | Yes (sulfonate group) | Yes (sulphur bridge) | Sulphur-free |
| Built-in antioxidancy | Limited | Yes | Yes (phenolic OH) |
| Typical role | Workhorse TBN booster | High-temperature co-detergent | Premium single-surfactant, low-SAPS & marine |
In practice formulators often combine chemistries — a sulfonate for economical base, a phenate or salicylate for high-temperature cleanliness — but the salicylate is the one that can carry detergency and base together, which is why it is the choice for the most demanding low-SAPS and marine formulations.
Choosing Between CA165 and CA265
Both grades are the same calcium alkyl salicylate chemistry; the choice is set by the base reserve you need, read from the Technical Specifications table above.
CA165 (TBN 175, calcium 6.2%) — medium base. The lighter, lower-viscosity grade, well suited as the salicylate detergent in passenger-car and light-duty engine oils, and wherever a moderate base reserve and easy handling are wanted. Its lower calcium content keeps the contribution to sulphated ash down — useful in mid-SAPS formulations.
CA265 (TBN 280, calcium 10.5%) — high base. The higher-base grade delivers more alkaline reserve per kilogram for stronger, longer-lasting acid neutralisation — the choice for heavy-duty diesel and marine oils that must cope with high-sulphur or biodiesel-containing fuels and extended drain intervals, where base-number retention is critical.
As a rule of thumb, step up from CA165 to CA265 as the acid load and drain interval increase, and balance the higher base against your sulphated-ash target. Both can be used alongside a sulfonate or phenate co-detergent; our technical team can advise on the right grade and balance on request.
Applications
This calcium alkyl salicylate is used as the detergent and base-reserve component in formulations targeting the categories below; the finished-oil performance depends on the complete additive package.
Passenger-car & low-SAPS engine oils
The sulphur-free, single-surfactant chemistry suits low- and mid-SAPS gasoline engine oils where piston cleanliness, oxidation control and fuel-economy retention must be met within tight ash, phosphorus and sulphur limits.
Heavy-duty diesel oils
The high-base CA265 grade provides the acid neutralisation and antioxidancy that keep heavy-duty diesel engines clean over long drain intervals, even on high-sulphur or biodiesel-containing fuels, with strong base-number retention.
Marine & large-engine oils
In trunk-piston and marine engine oils running on heavy fuel oil, salicylates are valued for excellent asphaltene handling and water shedding, plus cleanliness and base-number retention superior to sulfonate/phenate systems.
Gas-engine & railroad oils
The high-temperature stability and oxidation resistance of the salicylate suit stationary gas-engine and railroad diesel lubricants, where long oil life and deposit control under sustained load are required.
Finished-oil OEM and industry approvals (API, ACEA, and OEM specifications such as low-SAPS engine oil categories) are held by the fully formulated oil, not by an individual detergent component.
Treat Rate & Formulation Notes
The technical data sheet specifies the detergent itself rather than a finished-oil dosage, because the right level depends on the total base number the oil must reach and on the rest of the detergent-inhibitor package. As an indicative guide, engine-oil detergent systems typically run at a few weight percent of the finished oil, with the exact salicylate level set by the TBN target:
e.g. 3.0 wt% CA265 → ≈ 8.4 TBN · 5.0 wt% CA165 → ≈ 8.75 TBN (indicative)
Salicylate is a potent, single-surfactant detergent, so it is dosed to the base-number and cleanliness target and balanced against the sulphated-ash limit — Infineum and other formulators note that effective use of salicylate technology calls for a good level of formulation expertise. It is frequently combined with a sulfonate for economical base or a phenate for additional high-temperature detergency, and the balance is tuned to the finished oil’s metal, ash and base-number budget.
The figures above are indicative; the correct grade and treat rate depend on your TBN target, SAPS limit and the rest of the package. CheMost can provide formulation and treat-rate support on request.
Formulating With Calcium Alkyl Salicylate — Complementary Additives
The salicylate covers detergency, base reserve and some antioxidancy; a balanced engine-oil package pairs it with the additives that cover the rest of the performance envelope:
Ashless dispersants
Dispersants suspend low-temperature soot and sludge while the detergent keeps hot surfaces clean — the detergent–dispersant balance is the backbone of every crankcase formulation.
ZDDP antiwear
Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate provides the antiwear and antioxidant film; detergent and ZDDP levels are balanced together to manage the finished oil’s ash, phosphorus and base-number budget, especially in low-SAPS oils.
Antioxidants
Although the salicylate adds its own oxidation resistance, aminic and phenolic antioxidants are added for the long-drain and high-temperature oils where the salicylate’s contribution alone is not sufficient.
Sulfonate / phenate co-detergents
The salicylate is often combined with an overbased calcium sulfonate for economical base or a calcium phenate for extra high-temperature detergency, balancing performance against cost and ash.
Documentation, Qualification & Regulatory Support
Standard documentation — Certificate of Analysis (COA, per shipment), Technical Data Sheet (TDS) and Safety Data Sheet (SDS, GHS/CLP) — is provided. The full TDS is available on request rather than as a public download. Additional support is available on request:
Regulatory documentation
REACH, TSCA and country-specific market-registration documentation support available on request.
Third-party inspection
SGS / Intertek / BV pre-shipment inspection can be arranged on request.
Custom grades & packaging
Custom base-number grades and packaging — metal drum, IBC, ISO tank.
Formulation support
Grade selection, TBN-target and treat-rate guidance from our technical team.
Packaging & Supply
This calcium alkyl salicylate is stocked and shipped worldwide, with a typical lead time of 1–15 days and a 36-month shelf life at ambient temperature (maximum storage 50°C; maximum blending temperature 70°C). Samples and quotations are answered within 12 hours.
Packaging
200 kg metal drum · 1000 kg IBC tank.
Minimum order
1 drum or 1 IBC — no minimum order value.
Incoterms
FOB · CIF · EXW, to suit your freight arrangement.
Loading ports
All major Chinese ports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is calcium alkyl salicylate used for?
It is a detergent and TBN booster for engine oils — it keeps hot metal surfaces clean at high temperature, neutralises the acids formed by combustion and oxidation, and adds oxidation and corrosion resistance. It is the third major detergent chemistry after sulfonates and phenates, used in passenger-car, heavy-duty diesel and marine lubricants, especially low-SAPS and long-drain formulations. CheMost offers a medium-base grade (CA165, TBN 175) and a high-base grade (CA265, TBN 280).
How is a salicylate detergent different from a sulfonate or phenate?
A salicylate uses a single hydroxy-aromatic-carboxylate surfactant that provides detergency, the carbonate base reserve and antioxidancy all at once, whereas sulfonate-plus-phenate systems use two surfactant types to cover the same ground. The salicylate molecule is also sulphur-free (helpful for low-SAPS) and can give a lower friction coefficient. Sulfonates remain the economical workhorse for base; phenates add high-temperature detergency; salicylates are the premium, single-surfactant choice.
What is the difference between CA165 and CA265?
Both are the same calcium alkyl salicylate; they differ in base reserve. CA165 has a TBN of 175 and 6.2% calcium (medium base, lighter, lower ash) for passenger-car and mid-SAPS oils, while CA265 has a TBN of 280 and 10.5% calcium (high base) for heavy-duty diesel and marine oils that need stronger acid neutralisation over long drains. The full specifications are in the table above.
Is this the same as the calcium salicylate used in pharmaceuticals or food?
No. This is an oil-soluble, long-chain alkyl calcium salicylate detergent for lubricants — a UVCB micellar additive overbased with calcium carbonate. It is not the simple calcium salicylate salt used as a pharmaceutical or food preservative; they share the salicylate group but are different materials for entirely different uses.
How much calcium alkyl salicylate should I use?
It is dosed to the total base number and cleanliness your oil needs, typically a few weight percent of the finished oil; the TBN contribution is roughly the treat percent times the grade TBN divided by 100. Because salicylate is potent and balanced against the sulphated-ash limit, the exact level depends on your TBN target, SAPS budget and co-detergents — confirm with our team for your formulation.