Dielectric fluids comprising estolide compounds and methods of making and using the same

1. A method of retrofilling a transformer having a first dielectric fluid, said method comprising:

removing at least a portion of the first dielectric fluid from the transformer; and

replacing the at least a portion of the first dielectric fluid with a quantity of a second dielectric fluid,

wherein said second dielectric fluid comprises an estolide base oil, and said second dielectric fluid exhibits an EN selected from an integer or fraction of an integer that is equal to or less than 1.5, wherein the EN is the average number of estolide linkages in compounds according to Formula I, and wherein said estolide base oil comprises at least one compound of Formula I:

wherein

x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 20;

y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 20;

n is an integer equal to or greater than 0;

R 1 is an optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and

R 2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched,

wherein each fatty acid chain residue of said at least one compound is independently optionally substituted.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 14;

y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 14;

n is an integer selected from 0 to 8;

R 1 is an optionally substituted C 1 to C 22 alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and

R 2 is an optionally substituted C 1 to C 22 alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched,

wherein each fatty acid chain residue is unsubstituted.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein

x+y is, independently for each chain, an integer selected from 13 to 15; and

n is an integer selected from 0 to 6.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 7 and 8.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 7 and 8.

6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein x+y is 15 for at least one chain.

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein R 2 is an unsubstituted C 1 to C 18 alkyl that is saturated, and branched or unbranched.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein R 2 is branched.

9. The method according to claim 3 , wherein R 2 is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decanyl, undecanyl, dodecanyl, tridecanyl, tetradecanyl, pentadecanyl, hexadecanyl, heptadecanyl, octadecanyl, nonadecanyl, and icosanyl, which are saturated or unsaturated and branched or unbranched.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein R 2 is a branched C 6 to C 12 alkyl.

11. The method according to claim 4 , wherein R 1 is an unsubstituted C 1 to C 18 alkyl that is saturated, and branched or unbranched.

12. The method according to claim 3 , wherein R 1 is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decanyl, undecanyl, dodecanyl, tridecanyl, tetradecanyl, pentadecanyl, hexadecanyl, heptadecanyl, octadecanyl, nonadecanyl, and icosanyl, which are saturated or unsaturated and branched or unbranched.

13. The method according to claim 7 , wherein R 1 is an unsubstituted C 7 to C 17 alkyl that is saturated, and branched or unbranched.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein R 1 is unbranched.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second dielectric fluid has a kinematic viscosity equal to or less than 45 cSt when measured at 40° C.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the second dielectric fluid has a pour point equal to or lower than −25° C.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein second dielectric fluid further comprises at least one additive selected from one or more of an antioxidant, an antimicrobial agent, a cold flow modifier, a pour point modifier, a metal chelating agent, or a metal deactivator.

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second dielectric fluid has a fire point of greater than or equal to 300° C.

19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second dielectric fluid has a flash point of greater than or equal to 275° C.

20. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second dielectric fluid has a total acid number equal to or less than 0.1 mg KOH/g.

21. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one additive comprises an antioxidant selected from one or more of BHT, BHA, TBHQ, DBPC, THBP, an alkylated diphenylamine, vitamin E, or ascorbyl palmitate.

22. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transformer comprises a housing and a core/coil assembly, wherein the core/coil assembly is positioned in the housing and wherein the second dielectric fluid surrounds at least a portion of the core/coil assembly.

23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second dielectric fluid further comprises at least one additive selected from one or more of a polyalphaolefin, a synthetic ester, a polyalkylene glycol, a mineral oil, a vegetable oil, an animal-based oil, a monoglyceride, a diglyceride, a triglyceride, or a fatty-acid ester.

24. The method according to claim 4 , wherein y is 0 for each occurrence.