Zinc dithiophosphate

Structure of a monomeric zinc dialkyldithiophosphate

Zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (often referred to as ZDDP) are a family of coordination compounds developed in the 1940s that feature zinc bound to the anion of a dialkyldithiophosphoric salt (e.g., ammonium diethyl dithiophosphate).[1] These uncharged compounds are not salts. They are soluble in nonpolar solvents, and the longer-chain derivatives easily dissolve in mineral and synthetic oils used as lubricants. They come under CAS number 68649-42-3. In aftermarket oil additives, the percentage of ZDDP ranges approximately between 2 and 15%.[2] Zinc dithiophosphates have many names, including ZDDP, ZnDTP, and ZDP.

  1. ^ Spikes, H. (2004-10-01). "The History and Mechanisms of ZDDP". Tribology Letters. 17 (3): 469–489. doi:10.1023/B:TRIL.0000044495.26882.b5. ISSN 1023-8883. S2CID 7163944.
  2. ^ Allyson M. Barnes, Keith D. Bartle and Vincent R. A. Thibo "A review of zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDPS): characterisation and role in the lubricating oil". Tribology International, 2001, pp. 389–395. doi:10.1016/S0301-679X(01)00028-7.