Ethylene-alpha-olefin polymers, processes and uses
AssigneePennzoil-Quaker State Company
InventorsWilliam J. Heilman, I-Ching Chiu, James C.W. Chien
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Abstract
A novel series of copolymers and terpolymers, useful as base oils for synthetic lubricants, are produced by polymerization of ethylene, an alpha-olefin, and optionally a third monomer comprising an alpha-olefin of 3 to 20 carbon atoms, in the presence of a combination catalyst comprising a compound of a transition metal of Group IVb of the Periodic Table and an aluminoxane. The copolymer or terpolymer may be further processed by thermal cracking to yield novel cracked polymers, and the cracked polymers may be hydrogenated. The copolymers or terpolymers may also be hydroisomerized. All the polymers are useful as base oils for lubricating oils and consumer products.
Claims41
A copolymer comprising ethylene and an olefin;
- the copolymer being characterized by:
- (a) mole % of the ethylene from about 50% to about 75%;
- (b) molecular weight of <2000;
- (c) molecular weight distribution of <2.5;
- (d) bromine number of <53;
- and
- (e) a substantially all head-to-tail molecular structure,
- wherein the copolymer is obtained by cracking a precursor copolymer.
A terpolymer comprising ethylene, a first olefin different from ethylene, and a second olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and different from the first olefin;
- the terpolymer being characterized by:
- (a) mole % of the ethylene from about 10% to about 80%;
- (b) mole % of the first olefin from about 14% to about 80%;
- (c) mole % of the second olefin from about 1% to about 10%;
- (d) molecular weight of <2000;
- (e) molecular weight distribution of <2.5;
- (f) bromine number of <53;
- and
- (g) a substantially all head-to-tail molecular structure,
- wherein the copolymer is obtained by cracking a precursor copolymer.
A process for the production of a cracked ethylene-olefin polymer, comprising:
- (a) polymerizing ethylene and at least one olefin in the presence of a regio-selective catalyst to produce a precursor polymer;
- and
- (b) cracking at least a portion of the precursor polymer to produce a cracked polymer.
A process for the production of a hydroisomerized polymer of an ethylene-olefin polymer, comprising:
- (a) polymerizing ethylene and at least one olefin in the presence of a regio-selective catalyst to produce a precursor polymer;
- and
- (b) hydroisomerizing at least a portion of the precursor polymer to produce a hydroisomerized polymer.
A process for the production of a terpolymer, comprising:
- polymerizing ethylene and at least one olefin having from about 3-20 carbon atoms and a second olefin having from 4-20 carbon atoms in the presence of a regio-selective catalyst to produce the terpolymer,
- wherein the terpolymer is characterized by:
- (a) mole % of the ethylene of from about 10 to about 80%;
- (b) mole % of the first olefin of from about 14 to about 80%;
- (c) mole % of the second olefin of from about 1% to about 10%;
- (d) molecular weight of about 300-about 10,000;
- (e) molecular weight distribution of <2.5;
- (f) bromine number in the range of about 0 to about 53;
- and
- (g) a substantially all head-to-tail molecular structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.