Solid anti-friction devices – materials therefor – lubricant or se – Lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces and... – Solid hydrocarbon polymer
Patent
1999-03-02
2000-06-06
McAvoy, Ellen M.
Solid anti-friction devices, materials therefor, lubricant or se
Lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces and...
Solid hydrocarbon polymer
585 7, 585 10, 585 12, 585 18, C10M10702, C10M16904
Patent
active
060718633
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates generally to synthetic fluids prepared by oligomerizing linear .alpha.-olefins and more particularly to a synthetic fluid having improved biodegradability which is an oligomer of a mixture of C.sub.12 and C.sub.14 alpha-olefins.
Alpha-olefin oligomers, commonly referred to as polyalphaolefins or PAOs, and their use as hydraulic fluids and lubricants (synlubes) are well known. The oligomers are usually prepared from 1-decene for optimum properties, although mixtures of .alpha.-olefins have been used, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos 3,330,883 and 3,576,898. One advantage of the .alpha.-olefin fluids is that they are more biodegradable than mineral oil basestocks of like viscosity. This property is important from an environmental standpoint, especially in applications such as hydraulic fluids for earth- and water-moving equipment, automotive crankcase oils, heavy duty diesel oils, 2-stroke oils, automatic transmission fluids, and automotive gear oils. Biodegradability, however, tends to decrease as the viscosity of the fluids increases (higher oligomers). Surprisingly, we have found that oligomers made from certain C.sub.12 and C.sub.14 .alpha.-olefin mixtures have enhanced biodegradability compared to 1-decene based fluids.
In accordance with this invention there is provided a polyalphaolefin fluid which comprises an oligomer prepared from a mixture of C.sub.12 and C.sub.14 olefins, said mixture having a linear, terminal mono-olefin content of at least about 80 weight percent and a C.sub.12 olefin content of from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, said fluid having a kinematic viscosity of from about 5.0 to about 20 mm.sup.2 /s at 100.degree. C. and a biodegradability as determined by the CEC L-33 A93 test, of at least about 50 percent.
Also provided is a functional fluid or lubricant composition, said composition comprising a polyalphaolefin fluid which comprises: (a) an oligomer prepared from a mixture of C.sub.12 and C.sub.14 olefins, said mixture having a linear, terminal mono-olefin content of at least about 80 weight percent and a C.sub.12 olefin content of from 40 to 90 weight percent, said fluid having a kinematic viscosity of from 5.0 to 20 mm.sup.2 /s at 100.degree. C. and a biodegradability, as determined by the CEC L-33 A93 test, of at least about 50 percent, and (b) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of dispersants, antioxidants, anti-wear agents, antifoamers, corrosion inhibitors, detergents, seal-swell agents and viscosity improvers.
C.sub.12 and C.sub.14 .alpha.-olefin mixtures for forming the oligomer can be prepared by mixing substantially pure 1-dodecene and 1-tetradecene. Conveniently, commercially available mixtures such as those obtained from the Ziegler chain growth process, which usually contain up to about 20 weight percent of vinylidene and internal olefins, can also be used. The mixtures may also contain up to about 5 weight percent of C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.16+ olefins. Because the use of higher carbon number olefins raises the pour point of the oligomers compared to 1-decene oligomers, the proportion of C.sub.14 olefin should be kept at or below about 60 weight percent, such that the mixtures contain from 40 to 90 weight percent C.sub.12 olefin, preferably from about 55 to about 80 weight percent C.sub.12 olefin and, more preferably, from 60 to 75 weight percent C.sub.12 olefin, with the remainder being C.sub.14 olefin and up to about 5 weight percent of higher or lower carbon number olefins.
The oligomers can be prepared as known in the art, preferably using a Friedel-Crafts catalyst system. The preferred Friedel-Crafts catalyst is BF.sub.3. Pure BF.sub.3 is not an effective oligomerization catalyst and the use of a small amount of a polar compound is necessary.
Any of the known promoters for BF.sub.3 can be used such as water, alcohol (e.g. methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, n-hexanol, 2-ethyl hexanol, n-decanol, and n-dodecanol including mixtures thereof), fatty acids (e.g. valeric and ca
REFERENCES:
patent: 4218330 (1980-08-01), Shubkin
patent: 5284989 (1994-02-01), Apelian et al.
patent: 5595966 (1997-01-01), Rees et al.
International Search Report, PCT/US96/18169, Amoco Corporation et al., Apr. 1997.
Benda Rainer
Bullen John V.
Plomer Alan J.
BP Amoco Corporation
Henes James R.
Hensley Stephen L.
McAvoy Ellen M.
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