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This study aims to investigate a novel high‐efficient antioxidant for synthetic ester oils. An ester‐bridged antioxidant, phloroglucinol tris (3‐[3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl]) propionate (PTP), was successfully synthesised in high yield under relatively mild reaction conditions. Thermal stability and oxidation resistance of diisooctyl adipate (DOA) ester oil were determined and compared to the typical commercial phenol antioxidants, including its tribological properties. The results indicate that the prepared PTP antioxidant exhibits considerably higher thermal stability than commercial antioxidants, and it also improves the oxidation resistance of the synthetic ester oil more effectively. Moreover, the addition of PTP antioxidant enhanced the wear protection of DOA ester oil without deteriorating its lubricating performance. The ester‐bridged antioxidant can be used as a multifunctional additive, which not only exerts excellent thermal stability and oxidation resistance, but can also act as an efficient anti‐wear agent in synthetic ester oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation behavior of the synthetic ester oils di‐isooctyl adipate (DOA) and tri‐isodecyl trimellitate (TDTM) was investigated by analysing the oxidation induction time and oxidation onset temperature via pressure differential scanning calorimetry tests, and the variation in viscosity after oven accelerated oxidation tests. Moreover, theoretical calculations of the fractional free volumes and oxygen diffusion coefficients of DOA and TDTM were performed, and atomistic‐scale insights into the oxidative mechanisms of both oils were proposed based on reactive molecular dynamic (RMD) simulations. Better oxidation resistance for TDTM was confirmed with experimental observations. RMD results indicated that the C―O bonds of the alcohol chain and ester group of DOA were susceptible to oxidation. However, only the dissociation of the C―O bond of the alcohol chain initiated the oxidation of TDTM. Additionally, more degradation fragments for DOA were identified, along with the formation of a polymerized product, while no large molecules formed for TDTM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]