Technical Specifications
| Property | Unit | Typical Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Light yellow liquid | Visual | |
| Density @ 20 °C | kg/m³ | 1030 | ASTM D4052 |
| Viscosity @ 40 °C | mm²/s | 40 | ASTM D445 |
| Sulfur Content | % | 38.5 | ASTM D4951 |
| Active Sulfur | % | 38 | ASTM D4951 |
| Flash Point | °C | 150 | ASTM D93 |
| Copper Corrosion (100 °C, 3 h) | rating | 3b | ASTM D130 |
| Weld Load (four-ball) | kg | 320 | ASTM D2783 |
| Base-Oil Solubility | Mineral Group I, II, III >3% | — |
* Typical values from batch production. Batch-specific COA available on request.
Technical content reviewed by the CheMost additives team · Specifications last reviewed
Molecular Structure
Molecular structure · sulfur carrier
R–Sₓ–R (sulfurized olefin, active polysulfide)
Sulfurized olefin is a UVCB sulfur carrier: olefin chains bridged by active polysulfide (–Sₓ–) that release sulfur to build the EP iron-sulfide film.
What Is Sulfurized Olefin (T2040)?
CheMost-T2040 is a high-active-sulfur sulfurized olefin — an extreme-pressure (EP) additive and sulfur carrier used in water- and oil-based metalworking fluids and in gear oils. It is supplied as a light yellow, low-odour liquid with 38.5% total sulfur, of which 38% is active sulfur, and provides high load-carrying capacity together with good oil solubility and corrosion resistance.
Sulfurized olefins are sulfur carriers — organic molecules that hold sulfur in active polysulfide (–Sₓ–) bridges and release it at the hot, highly loaded metal contact to build a sacrificial iron-sulfide film that prevents adhesive wear, scuffing and cold welding under boundary lubrication. T2040’s high active-sulfur content gives strong EP, shown by a weld point of 320 kg (ASTM D2783).
With its light colour and low odour, T2040 fits the modern trend toward cleaner sulfur carriers and serves as a chlorinated-paraffin replacement in metalworking fluids. For high-sulfur gear-oil duty, the isobutylene-based sulfurized isobutylene is the companion grade.
How Sulfurized Olefin Works
EP iron-sulfide film
Under high load the active polysulfide bridges release sulfur that reacts with the steel to form a low-shear iron-sulfide layer, preventing adhesive wear, scuffing and welding at the tool edge or gear flank.
High active sulfur
38% active of 38.5% total sulfur gives strong load-carrying capacity — a weld point of 320 kg by the four-ball test (ASTM D2783).
Light colour, low odour
A cleaner, low-odour sulfur carrier that suits modern metalworking-fluid formulations and reduces the staining and smell associated with older sulfur chemistries.
Water- & oil-compatible
Good oil solubility plus use in water-based systems makes it a versatile sulfur carrier across soluble, semi-synthetic and straight metalworking fluids.
Active Sulfur & Copper Corrosion
Sulfur carriers are classed by how readily their sulfur reacts: active sulfur gives the strongest EP but is more corrosive to copper and yellow metals, while inactive grades are gentler but lower in EP. T2040 is a high-active grade (ASTM D130 copper corrosion 3b), so it delivers strong EP for steel cutting, forming and gear duty. Where yellow metals are present, pair it with a copper metal deactivator such as benzotriazole, or select a lower-activity grade — the usual way to balance EP against yellow-metal corrosion.
Applications
CheMost-T2040 is used as the sulfur-carrier EP component in formulations targeting the duties below:
Metalworking fluids
The core application — water- and oil-based cutting, forming and drawing fluids where the active sulfur carrier extends tool life and prevents welding under boundary lubrication.
Industrial gear oils
EP load-carrying capacity in industrial gear oils, used alone or combined with a higher-sulfur isobutylene grade and a phosphorus EP/antiwear additive.
Greases & high-load lubricants
Sulfur-carrier EP performance in greases and specialty lubricants for heavily loaded steel components.
Finished-fluid performance approvals belong to the fully formulated metalworking fluid or gear oil, not to an individual additive component.
Treat Rate
The data sheet reports a performance point (weld point 320 kg, ASTM D2783) rather than a fixed dosage, so the figures below are indicative — confirm the final level for your formulation.
First-order estimate. Sulfur-carrier EP additives are typically dosed around 1–5% in metalworking and gear oils, higher for severe cutting and forming, trimmed up to the target four-ball / weld result and down to the copper-corrosion limit.
In a metalworking fluid the sulfur carrier is the EP backbone, often combined with fatty-ester lubricity carriers and, in gear oils, with a phosphorus EP/antiwear additive (the classic S–P synergy). The exact level depends on the operation severity, the metals present and the rest of the package.
Treat rates are indicative, not fixed dosages. CheMost can provide formulation and treat-rate support on request.
Formulating With T2040 — Complementary Additives
Sulfurized isobutylene
The high-sulfur, gear-oil-oriented sibling; combining the two sulfur carriers tunes activity, viscosity and EP level across metalworking and gear applications.
Phosphorus EP / antiwear (TPPT)
Sulfur and phosphorus chemistries act in synergy: the sulfur carrier handles extreme-pressure welding while the phosphorus additive builds the antiwear film — the gear-oil EP backbone.
Benzotriazole (metal deactivator)
BTA passivates copper and yellow metals, offsetting the active sulfur’s copper corrosion so the EP level can be raised where bronze components are present.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants extend fluid life under the heat of heavy cutting and loaded gear contacts, complementing the sulfur carrier’s EP role.
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 activity/sulfur levels and packaging — metal drum, IBC, ISO tank.
Formulation support
Metalworking-fluid EP balancing and treat-rate guidance from our technical team.
Packaging & Supply
CheMost-T2040 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 olefin used for?
It is an extreme-pressure (EP) additive and sulfur carrier used in water- and oil-based metalworking fluids and in gear oils. Its active polysulfide sulfur reacts with the steel surface under high load to form a protective iron-sulfide film that prevents scuffing, welding and tool wear. CheMost-T2040 has 38.5% total sulfur (38% active).
What is the difference between sulfurized olefin and sulfurized isobutylene?
Both are active sulfur-carrier EP additives that form iron-sulfide films. T2040 sulfurized olefin (38.5% S, viscosity 40) is oriented to metalworking fluids and is light-coloured and low-odour; T321 sulfurized isobutylene is a higher-sulfur (45%) grade aimed at automotive and industrial gear oils. They are often combined to tune activity and EP level.
Is it corrosive to copper?
T2040 is a high-active grade (ASTM D130 copper corrosion 3b), so it is more aggressive to copper and yellow metals — the trade-off for strong EP. Where yellow metals are present, pair it with a copper metal deactivator such as benzotriazole or choose a lower-activity grade.
Can it be used in water-based metalworking fluids?
Yes — T2040 is used as a sulfur-carrier EP additive in both water- and oil-based metal processing fluids, with good oil solubility, light colour and low odour suited to soluble, semi-synthetic and straight oils.
How is it supplied, and how fast can I get a sample?
It is supplied in 200 kg metal drums and 1000 kg IBC tanks with a 36-month shelf life, and shipped worldwide. As a manufacturer and sourcing partner (Est. 2013), CheMost answers sample and quotation requests within 12 hours.