Aminated polymeric additives for fuel and lubricants
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsLawrence J. Engel, John B. Gardiner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hydrocarbon polymers, optimally, copolymers having a degree of crystallinity of up to 25 weight percent, comprising about 2 to 98 mole percent ethylene, and one or more C.sub.3 to C.sub.28 alpha-olefins are mechanically grafted at elevated temperatures, under an inert atmosphere, to form an aminated polymer which is thereafter mechanically-oxidatively degraded at an elevated temperature in the presence of air or oxygen-containing gas to form an aminated polymeric reaction product. The resulting aminated polymers are useful as sludge dispersants for fuels and lubricants. When the aminated polymers have a high molecular weight, they are also useful as viscosity-index improvers with dispersant and/or pour point depressant activity.
Claims5
In a process for aminating and thereafter decreasing the molecular weight of an olefin copolymer to form an oil-soluble aminated copolymer useful as a sludge dispersing-viscosity index improving, additive for lubricating oil, the improvement which comprises:
- (a) carrying out said amination without substantial molecular weight degradation of said copolymer by mechanically working a mixture consisting essentially of amine and said copolymer at a temperature of about 130.degree. to 260.degree. C., under an inert gas atmosphere, for about 0.5 to 12 hours to thereby incorporate about 0.01 to 0.5 weight percent nitrogen into said copolymer, wherein said copolymer is a copolymer having a number average molecular weight in the range of about 700 to 250,00 and consists essentially of ethylene in an amount in the range of 2 to 98 wt. %, and one or more C.sub.3 to C.sub.28 alpha-olefins, and wherein said amine is a saturated, aliphatic hydrocarbyl polyamine of 3 to 20 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 nitrogen atoms;
- and, (b) thereafter, mechanically-oxidatively degrading said copolymer product in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas and at an elevated temperature in the range of about 95.degree. C. to 260.degree. C. for a period of from about 0.25 to 20 hours whereby the number average molecular weight of said copolymer is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.