US 2003/0125495 A1 · Alpha olefin-diene copolymers

Abstract

Atactic copolymers derived from an alpha-olefin, optionally ethylene and a non-conjugated diene are provided. The units derived from the diene provide pendant groups having internal or terminal double bonds. Suitable dienes for preparing such copolymers include: CH2═C(R1)—R2—C(R3)═CH2, CH2═C(R1)—R4—C(R3)═CH—CH3, wherein R1 and R3 are indenpendently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group, R2 and R4 are alkylene moieties having a chain length of at least 3 carbon atoms and at least 1 carbon atom respectively, or a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of the Formulae: ═CR5R6, —CR7═CH2, wherein R5 and R6 and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl. Also provided are processes for the functionalisation of the atactic copolymers and their use as lubricating oil additives.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An atactic copolymer having units derived from (a) at least one alpha olefin (b) optionally ethylene and (c) at least one non-conjugated diene selected from the group consisting of

(i) a diene of the Formula
CH2═C(R1)—R2—C(R3)═CH2 (I)
wherein R1 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group, and R2 is an alkylene moiety having a chain length of at least 3 carbon atoms
(ii) a diene of the Formula:
Ch2═C(R1)—R4—C(R3)═CH—CH3 (II)
wherein R1 and R3 are as defined as for formula (I) and R4 is an alk-ylene moiety having a chain length of at least 1 carbon atom
(iii) a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of the formula:
═CR5R6 (III)
wherein R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl group and
(iv) a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of the Formula
—CR7═CH2 (IV)
wherein R7 is hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl group with the proviso that where the copolymer has units derived from a diene of Formula (I) or a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of Formula (IV) at least 30 mol % of any units derived from the diene provide pendant groups having a double bond and less than 2 mol % of said units provide ‘H’-type branching.

9 more elements

A process for the preparation of an atactic copolymer having units derived from (a) at least one alpha olefin (b) optionally ethylene and (c) at least one non-conjugated diene selected from the group consisting of a diene of the Formula:

(i) CH2═C(R1)—R2—C(R3)═CH2 (I)
wherein R1 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group, and R2 is an alkylene moiety having a chain length of at least 3 carbon atoms and
(ii) a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of the Formula:
—CR7═CH2 (IV)
wherein R7 is hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl group and wherein at least 30 mol % of any units derived from the diene provide pendant groups having a double bond and less than 2 mol % of units derived from the diene provide ‘H’-type branching, said copolymer having a number average molecular weight of less than or equal to 10,000, which process comprises contacting (a) at least one alpha olefin (b) optionally ethylene and (c) at least one non-conjugated diene of Formula (I) or a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of the Formula (IV) in a liquid phase polymerisation system in a polymerisation reactor at a temperature of greater than 40° C. in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst which is capable of giving rise to an atactic structure, with the proviso that when the alpha olefin is propylene, the concentration of propylene is less than or equal to 50% by volume of a diluent.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Alpha olefin-diene copolymers

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Alpha olefin-diene copolymers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17