Technical Specifications
| Property | Unit | Typical Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | — | Brown red liquid | Visual |
| TBN | mgKOH/g | 265 | ASTM D2896 |
| Calcium | % | 9.85 | ASTM D4951 |
| Sulphur | % | 3.15 | ASTM D4951 |
| Sulfate ash | % | 32 | ASTM D874 |
| Flash Point | °C | >200 | ASTM D93 |
| Viscosity at 100°C | mm²/s | 250 | ASTM D445 |
| Density at 20°C | kg/m³ | 1060 | ASTM D4052 |
| Moisture content | % | 0.06 | ASTM D95 |
| Mechanical impurities | % | 0.01 | 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
[R–C₆H₃(O)–Sₓ–]₂Ca·(CaCO₃)ᵧ
A sulfur-bridged calcium alkylphenate surfactant (x = 1–2) stabilising a colloidal CaCO₃ reserve. The sulfur bridge is what adds the oxidation resistance a sulfonate lacks; the carbonate core carries the reserve alkalinity behind T122's TBN 265.
What Is Sulfurized Calcium Alkyl Phenate (T122)?
CheMost T122 is a high-base sulfurized calcium alkyl phenate — a metallic detergent made by sulfurizing a long-chain alkylphenol, neutralising it with calcium and overbasing it with colloidal calcium carbonate. It carries a TBN of 265 mgKOH/g at 9.85% calcium, with a comparatively high 3.15% sulfur that comes from the sulfur bridge between the phenol rings.
Structurally it is a calcium alkylphenate surfactant — two alkylphenol units joined by a sulfide bridge (–Sₓ–, x = 1–2) — stabilising a reserve of amorphous CaCO₃ inside an inverse micelle. The carbonate core is the acid-neutralisation reserve; the phenate surfactant keeps it oil-soluble and surface-active. The feature that sets a phenate apart from a sulfonate is that sulfur bridge: it makes the molecule a detergent and an antioxidant, so T122 contributes oxidation and corrosion resistance on top of detergency and base reserve.
T122 is designed for the high-temperature end of engine lubrication — turbocharged heavy-duty diesel (HDEO), marine cylinder and natural gas engine oils — where its phenate chemistry controls hot-surface deposits and neutralises combustion acids, and where it is most often used alongside a calcium sulfonate detergent rather than on its own.
How T122 Works
High-temperature acid neutralisation
The colloidal CaCO₃ reserve held in the phenate micelle neutralises the strong acids formed when fuel burns and when the oil oxidises, protecting bearings, rings and cylinder surfaces from corrosive wear under elevated-temperature service.
Upper-ring & piston deposit control
The surfactant adsorbs onto deposit precursors and keeps them suspended, controlling the carbon, varnish and lacquer that otherwise bake onto the upper ring belt and piston crown in turbocharged diesel service.
Sulfur-bridge oxidation & corrosion resistance
The –Sₓ– bridge between the phenol rings gives the molecule genuine antioxidant activity, slowing the oxidation that thickens oil and generates acids — a dual detergent-plus-antioxidant role that a sulfonate does not provide.
Synergy with calcium sulfonate
Phenate and sulfonate detergents are complementary: the phenate brings high-temperature detergency and antioxidancy, the sulfonate brings rust protection and water tolerance. Blended together they give balanced cleanliness and alkalinity, which is how T122 is most often deployed.
T122 vs C300 vs C400 vs M400 — Choosing the Right Detergent
All four are CheMost overbased metallic detergents in the same family. C300, C400 and M400 are sulfonates (the rust-protection and base-reserve workhorses); T122 is the phenate — the high-temperature, antioxidant-active grade. They are usually chosen together, not against each other.
| Property | C300 | C400 | M400 | T122 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | High-base calcium sulfonate | Overbased calcium sulfonate | Overbased magnesium sulfonate | Sulfurized calcium alkyl phenate |
| TBN (mgKOH/g) | 320 | 415 | 420 | 265 |
| Metal | 12.5% Ca | 15.85% Ca | 10.0% Mg | 9.85% Ca |
| Sulphur | 1.40% | 1.45% | — | 3.15% |
| Viscosity at 100°C | 45 mm²/s | 100 mm²/s | 110 mm²/s | 250 mm²/s |
| Key strength | Balanced rust + acid control | Maximum base reserve per unit treat | Lower-ash base reserve | Sulfur-bridge antioxidancy + high-temperature deposit control |
| Best for | Extended-drain HDDEO & high-sulphur-fuel oils | HDDEO, marine & high-sulphur-fuel TBN boosting | High-grade gasoline & gas-engine oils (low ash) | Turbocharged HDEO, marine cylinder & gas-engine oils; co-detergent with sulfonate |
Need the rust protection and high base reserve of a sulfonate? See C300 and the super-high-base C400, or the lower-ash M400. In most packages T122 works with one of these, not instead of it.
Applications
T122 is used as the sulfurized calcium phenate detergent component in formulations targeting the categories below.
Turbocharged heavy-duty diesel oils
Supplies high-temperature detergency and acid control for the hot ring-belt and piston environment of turbocharged diesel engines, supporting formulations targeting API CK-4/CJ-4 and ACEA E-category cleanliness.
Marine cylinder & trunk-piston oils
Overbased phenates are a classic choice for marine diesel cylinder lubricants, where large amounts of acid from high-sulphur fuel must be neutralised and the upper cylinder kept clean. This is where the high marine treat rate applies.
Natural gas engine oils
The sulfur-bridge antioxidancy suits the oxidising, nitrating environment of natural gas engines, helping control oil thickening and high-temperature deposits in formulations targeting gas-engine service.
Co-detergent in additive packages
Blended with a calcium sulfonate, T122 adds high-temperature cleanliness and oxidation resistance to a detergent–inhibitor package, giving the formulator the balanced sulfonate-plus-phenate surfactant system used in most modern crankcase oils.
Finished-oil OEM approvals (e.g. API, ACEA and OEM engine-test sequences) are held by the fully formulated oil, not by an individual additive component.
Treat Rate & TBN Contribution
The T122 technical data sheet gives the recommended treat rates below. Because TBN scales with treat, the first-order base contribution of T122 to the finished oil is:
e.g. 4 wt% → ≈ 10.6 mgKOH/g · 30 wt% → ≈ 79.5 mgKOH/g (marine cylinder)
| Application | Treat rate (TDS) |
|---|---|
| Engine oils (HDEO / PCMO / gas-engine) | 0.5–4.0 wt% |
| Marine cylinder oils | 25–35 wt% |
For context, total detergent treatment in engine oils typically runs about 6–10 wt%, split across a sulfonate and a phenate. T122’s 0.5–4.0 wt% reflects its role as the phenate portion of that detergent system rather than the whole of it. Marine cylinder oils carry a far higher base reserve to cope with high-sulphur residual fuel, which is why the TDS marine figure jumps to 25–35 wt%.
The TDS treat ranges above are the manufacturer’s recommendations; the right level for your oil depends on the target TBN, ash limit and the rest of the additive package, in particular the co-detergent sulfonate. CheMost can provide formulation and treat-rate support on request.
Formulating With T122 — Complementary Additives
A phenate covers high-temperature detergency, acid control and part of the antioxidancy; a balanced crankcase package pairs T122 with additives that cover the rest of the performance envelope:
Calcium sulfonate co-detergent
The headline pairing. A sulfonate such as C300 or C400 supplies rust protection, water tolerance and a large share of the base reserve; T122 adds high-temperature cleanliness and oxidation resistance. The sulfonate-plus-phenate surfactant system is the backbone of modern detergent packages.
Ashless dispersants
Detergent and dispersant are complementary: T122 cleans hot surfaces and neutralises acid, while an ashless dispersant suspends low-temperature soot and sludge. The detergent–dispersant balance is the core of every crankcase formulation.
ZDDP antiwear additives
ZDDP provides antiwear protection and secondary antioxidancy. Detergent and ZDDP levels are balanced together to manage the total metal, ash and acid-base budget of the finished oil.
Supplementary antioxidants
T122’s sulfur bridge already contributes antioxidancy, but aminic and phenolic antioxidants are added where longer drain or higher temperatures demand more oxidation control than the detergent alone can give.
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 grades and packaging — metal drum, IBC, ISO tank.
Formulation support
Treat-rate calculation and formulation guidance from our technical team.
Packaging & Supply
T122 is stocked and shipped worldwide, with a typical lead time of 1–15 days and a 36-month shelf life at ambient temperature. 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 sulfurized calcium alkyl phenate (T122)?
It is a high-base calcium phenate detergent in which two alkylphenol rings are joined by a sulfur bridge, neutralised with calcium and overbased with colloidal calcium carbonate. T122 carries TBN 265 mgKOH/g at 9.85% calcium. The carbonate reserve neutralises combustion and oxidation acids, while the sulfur bridge gives it a dual detergent-and-antioxidant role for high-temperature engine and marine oils.
How is a calcium phenate different from a calcium sulfonate?
Both are overbased metallic detergents that carry a CaCO₃ reserve. A calcium sulfonate leads on rust protection and water tolerance; a sulfurized calcium alkyl phenate leads on high-temperature detergency and, thanks to its sulfur bridge, contributes antioxidancy. In practice they are blended — sulfonate plus phenate — to get balanced cleanliness, acid control and oxidation resistance.
What is T122 used for?
It is used as the phenate detergent component in turbocharged heavy-duty diesel (HDEO), marine cylinder and natural gas engine oils, typically alongside a calcium sulfonate. It controls upper-ring and piston deposits, neutralises combustion acids and adds oxidation resistance in high-temperature service.
What treat rate should I use for T122?
The TDS recommends 0.5–4.0 wt% in engine oils and 25–35 wt% in marine cylinder oils. As a first approximation the finished-oil base contribution is treat % × 265 ÷ 100 (so 4 wt% ≈ 10.6 mgKOH/g). The right level depends on your target TBN, ash limit and the co-detergent sulfonate; our technical team can assist with the calculation.
How is T122 supplied, and how fast can I get a sample?
T122 is supplied in 200 kg metal drums and 1000 kg IBC tanks, shipped worldwide with a 36-month shelf life. As a manufacturer and sourcing partner (Est. 2013), CheMost responds to sample and quotation requests within 12 hours.