Triblock Copolymer Concentrates for Lubricating Oil Compositions

A VM concentrate comprising:

• from about 60 parts to about 90 parts of a diluent oil;
• and
• from about 10 parts to about 40 parts of a linear triblock copolymer characterized by the formula:
• D′-PA-D″;
• wherein D′ represents a block derived from diene, PA represents a block derived from monoalkenyl arene, D″ represents a block derived from diene, and the linear tribock copolymer is present in an amount effective to modify a lubricating kinematic viscosity at approximately 100° C. (KV100) of the concentrate,
• wherein the concentrate comprises at least 50 wt % of the diluent oil and the effective amount of the linear triblock copolymer is such that the concentrate comprises at least 9.5 wt % of the linear triblock copolymer, and
• wherein a KV100 of the diluent oil is from about 2 cSt to about 40 cSt and the KV100 of the concentrate is about 3000 cSt or less.

A VM concentrate comprising:

• from about 60 parts to about 95 parts of a diluent oil;
• and
• from about 5 parts to about 40 parts of a linear triblock copolymer characterized by the formula:
• D′-PA-D″;
• wherein D′ represents a block derived from diene, PA represents a block derived from monoalkenyl arene, D″ represents a block derived from diene, and the linear triblock copolymer exhibits a thickening efficiency span of at most 0.5 and is present in an amount effective to modify a lubricating kinematic viscosity at approximately 100° C. (KV100) of the concentrate,
• wherein the concentrate comprises at least 50 wt % of the diluent oil, and
• wherein the KV100 of the diluent oil is from about 2 cSt to about 40 cSt and the KV100 of the concentrate is about 2000 cSt or less.