Polymeric viscosity modifiers for use in lubricants

A process for making a polymeric composition comprising the steps of:

• A) forming a reaction product by reacting components a) and b) in a molar ratio of about 1:1:
• a) a lactone of formula (I) or a derivative thereof:
• wherein X is oxygen, and R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbylene group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the hydrocarbylene group can be substituted with 1-3 substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano, carboxy, and an alkyl or alkenyl group having 1 to 32 carbon atoms which may be linear or branched;
• and
• b) at least one compound selected from:
• a linear, branched cyclic or aromatic amine comprising at least one primary or secondary amino group;
• a linear, branched cyclic or aromatic alcohol comprising at least one primary, or secondary alcohol according to Formula (III), or a tertiary alkyl or alkenyl alcohol according to Formula (IV), wherein Formula (III) and Formula (IV) are as follows:
• wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen and an optionally substituted linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, and R2 is an optionally substituted linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group and the number of carbon atoms of R1 and R2 add to a total of 7 to 31 carbon atoms, and
• wherein R3, R4, and R5 are each independently selected from an optionally substituted linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group wherein the number of carbon atoms of R3, R4, and R5 add to a total of 7 to 31 carbon atoms;
• and
• B) reacting the reaction product of step A) to an acylated olefin copolymer obtainable by acylating a copolymer of ethylene and one or more C3-C10 alpha-olefins having a number average molecular weight Mn of 5,000 to 200,000 g/mol as measured by GPC.

A lubricating oil composition comprising:

• greater than 50 wt % of a base oil, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, and
• 0.1 wt % to 20 wt %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of a dispersant viscosity modifier obtainable by:
• A) forming a first reaction product by reacting components a) and b) in a molar ratio of about 1:1:
• a) at least one of a lactone of formula (I) or a derivative thereof:
• wherein X is oxygen, and R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbylene group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the hydrocarbylene group can be substituted with 1-3 substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxyl, nitro, cyano, carboxy, and an alkyl or alkenyl group having 1 to 32 carbon atoms which may be linear or branched;
• and
• b) at least one compound selected from:
• a linear, branched cyclic or aromatic amine comprising at least one primary or secondary amino group;
• a linear, branched cyclic or aromatic alcohol comprising at least one primary or secondary alcohol according to Formula (III), or a tertiary alkyl or alkenyl alcohol according to Formula (IV), wherein Formula (III) and Formula (IV) are as follows:
• wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen and an optionally substituted linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, and R2 is an optionally substituted linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group and the number of carbon atoms of R1 and R2 add to a total of 7 to 31 carbon atoms, and
• wherein R3, R4, and R5 are each independently selected from an optionally substituted linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group wherein the number of carbon atoms of R3, R4, and R5 add to a total of 7 to 31 carbon atoms;
• and
• B) forming a second reaction product by reacting:
• c) at least one compound selected from:
• a linear, branched cyclic or aromatic amine comprising at least one primary or secondary amino group;
• a linear, branched cyclic or aromatic alcohol comprising at least one primary, secondary, or tertiary alkyl or alkenyl alcohols;
• and
• an oxazoline;
• and
• d) an acylated olefin copolymer obtainable by acylating a copolymer of ethylene and one or more C3-C10 alpha-olefins having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 5,000 to 200,000 g/mol as measured by GPC, with an acylating agent;
• C) reacting the first and the second reaction product of steps A) and B).