Technical Specifications
| Property | Unit | Typical Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | — | Brown red liquid | Visual |
| TBN | mgKOH/g | 320 | ASTM D2896 |
| Calcium | % | 12.5 | ASTM D4951 |
| Sulphur | % | 1.40 | ASTM D4294 |
| Density at 20°C | kg/m³ | 1135 | ASTM D4052 |
| Viscosity at 100°C | mm²/s | 45 | ASTM D445 |
| Flash Point | °C | >190 | ASTM D93 |
| Color | — | 2.0 | ASTM D1544 |
| Moisture Content | % | 0.08 | ASTM D95 |
| Mechanical Impurities | % | 0.03 | ASTM D473 |
* 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
Ca₂[R–C₆H₄–SO₃]₂ₓ·(CaCO₃)ᵧ
Colloidal CaCO₃ micelles stabilised by a calcium sulfonate surfactant shell — the overbased "y/x" reserve that delivers TBN.
What Is High-Based Calcium Sulfonate (C300)?
CheMost C300 is a high-base calcium sulfonate detergent with a Total Base Number (TBN) of 320 mgKOH/g and 12.5% calcium. It is produced by extensive carbonation of a calcium sulfonate reaction mixture, building a large colloidal calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) core stabilised by sulfonate surfactant micelles in a mineral-oil carrier.
Calcium sulfonates are the most widely used metallic detergent in lubricant formulation — accounting for roughly two-thirds of the detergent market — because they combine strong acid-neutralisation with excellent oil solubility at competitive cost. In the additive trade, this high-base grade is commonly referred to as a “T106-type” calcium sulfonate.
That carbonate reserve is the source of the additive’s defining property: as combustion and oxidation generate strong acids in service, the colloidal CaCO₃ neutralises them before they corrode bearings or form deposits, while the sulfonate surfactant keeps the system oil-soluble and well dispersed.
How C300 Works
High acid-neutralisation reserve
The colloidal CaCO₃ core neutralises sulphuric and nitric acids from sulphur-bearing fuel and NOₓ blow-by, plus organic acids from oil oxidation — protecting bearings and metal surfaces from corrosive wear.
Detergency at hot surfaces
The sulfonate surfactant solubilises and disperses high-temperature deposits, keeping the piston ring-belt and other hot surfaces clean and maintaining ring mobility.
Long-drain TBN maintenance
The large base reserve depletes slowly, holding finished-oil TBN above the critical minimum through extended drain intervals and high-sulphur-fuel exposure.
Rust & corrosion control
Acid neutralisation combines with hydrophobic film formation to protect metal against both acidic and water-driven corrosion in engine and marine environments.
C300 vs C400 vs M400 — Choosing the Right Grade
CheMost offers three overbased sulfonate detergents. Match the grade to your target TBN, ash level and application.
| Parameter | C300 | C400 | M400 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | High-base Ca sulfonate | Overbased Ca sulfonate | Overbased Mg sulfonate |
| TBN (mgKOH/g, D2896) | 320 | 415 | 420 |
| Metal content | Ca 12.5% | Ca 15.85% | Mg 10.0% |
| Viscosity @100°C (mm²/s) | 45 | 100 | 110 |
| Density @20°C (kg/m³) | 1135 | 1220 | 1140 |
| Best suited to | Extended-drain detergency · high-sulphur fuel · deposit control | Super-high-TBN base for detergent-inhibitor packages | Reduced-ash, high-grade gasoline engine oils |
Applications
C300 is used as the high-TBN detergent component in formulations targeting the performance categories below.
Heavy-duty diesel engine oils (HDDEO)
Provides the TBN reserve and detergency required by heavy-duty diesel formulations targeting API CK-4/FA-4 and ACEA E6/E9, operating under high acid loads and extended drains.
Marine & large-bore diesel engine oils
Delivers concentrated TBN for medium-speed marine trunk-piston and stationary engine oils that must sustain acid-neutralisation in salt-air environments.
High-sulphur-fuel & off-road engine oils
Maintains finished-oil TBN where higher fuel sulphur generates proportionally more acid in the combustion chamber and blow-by — mining, agriculture and off-road diesel.
Finished-oil OEM approvals (e.g. MB 228.x, Volvo VDS-x, MAN M 3xxx) are held by the fully formulated oil, not by an individual additive component.
Treat Rate & TBN Contribution
C300 is recommended at 0.5–10.0% of the finished lubricant, depending on target TBN and the rest of the additive package. As a first-order estimate, its finished-oil TBN contribution is its treat rate multiplied by its TBN:
Indicative treat rate by application
The table gives typical finished-oil TBN targets by application and an indicative C300 treat rate to supply that base. These are starting points only — C300 normally contributes part of the total TBN alongside other detergents, so the final rate depends on your complete additive package and sulphated-ash limit.
| Application | Typical finished-oil TBN (mgKOH/g) | Indicative C300 treat rate* |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy-duty diesel engine oils (API CK-4/FA-4, ACEA E6/E9) | 7–10 | 2–4 wt% |
| Marine trunk-piston & system oils | 12–30 | 4–9 wt% |
| Passenger-car & gasoline engine oils | 5–8 | 1.5–3 wt% |
| High-sulphur & off-road diesel engine oils | 9–13 | 3–5 wt% |
*Indicative starting points derived from the TBN relationship above, not fixed dosages. C300 is one component of the detergent system; the final treat rate must be confirmed against your target TBN, sulphated-ash limit and co-additive package. CheMost can provide formulation and treat-rate support on request.
Formulating With C300 — Complementary Additives
C300 covers acid neutralisation and high-temperature detergency. A balanced crankcase package pairs it with additives that cover the rest of the performance envelope:
Ashless dispersants
C300 cleans hot surfaces and neutralises acids; ashless dispersants handle the other half — suspending low-temperature sludge and diesel soot, the soot-thickening that drives oil viscosity rise. The detergent–dispersant balance is the backbone of every crankcase additive package.
ZDDP antiwear additives
ZDDP adds antiwear protection and secondary antioxidancy. Because both C300 and ZDDP contribute sulphated ash, their treat rates are balanced together against the formulation’s ash limit — critical in low-SAPS oils.
Antioxidants
Calcium sulfonate offers some oxidation resistance, but phenolic and aminic primary antioxidants carry long-drain oil-life protection — working alongside the detergent’s high-temperature cleanliness.
Complementary detergents
Modern oils use a combination of detergent types. C300 is often blended with phenate or magnesium detergents (such as M400) to balance detergency, ash and TBN against the target specification.
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. 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 TBN grades and packaging — 200 kg drum, 1000 L IBC, ISO tank.
Formulation support
Treat-rate calculation and formulation guidance from our technical team.
Packaging & Supply
C300 is stocked and shipped worldwide, with a typical lead time of 1–15 days. Samples and quotations are answered within 12 hours.
Packaging
200 kg steel drum · 1000 L IBC · flexitank / ISO tank.
Minimum order
1 drum (200 kg) or 1 IBC (1000 L) — no minimum order value.
Incoterms
FOB · CIF · EXW, to suit your freight arrangement.
Loading ports
All major Chinese ports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between C300, C400 and M400?
C300 is a high-base calcium sulfonate (TBN 320, Ca 12.5%) for extended-drain detergency and deposit control. C400 is a super-high-TBN calcium grade (TBN 415, Ca 15.85%) used as a concentrated base in detergent-inhibitor packages. M400 is a magnesium sulfonate (TBN 420, Mg 10%) chosen where lower ash is preferred, such as high-grade gasoline engine oils.
What finished-oil TBN can I reach, and at what treat rate?
As a first-order estimate, TBN contribution ≈ C300 TBN (320) × treat rate, so 2 wt% contributes roughly 6.4 mgKOH/g. Exact treat rates depend on your target TBN, sulphated-ash limit and co-additives; our technical team can assist.
Why choose calcium (C300/C400) over magnesium (M400) sulfonate?
Calcium sulfonate offers excellent detergency and acid neutralisation at competitive cost. Magnesium sulfonate delivers a high base number at lower ash, which can be advantageous in low-SAPS or gasoline engine oil formulations. The choice depends on the ash and performance targets of the finished oil.
What is the CAS number and HS code for C300?
C300 corresponds to CAS 61789-86-4 (overbased calcium petroleum sulfonate). The typical export HS code is 3811.21. A full SDS is provided with the product documentation.
How is C300 supplied, and how fast can I get a sample?
C300 is supplied in 200 kg drums, 1000 L IBCs or ISO tanks and shipped worldwide. As a manufacturer and sourcing partner (Est. 2013), CheMost responds to sample and quotation requests within 12 hours.