Use of polymethylalkanes as biodegradable base oils in lubricants and functional fluids

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of polymethylalkanes having terminal methyl groups and methylene and ethylidene groups of the formula I ##STR1## in which the total number of C atoms n+2 m+2 is 20 to 100 and the ratio of the methyl and methylene groups to the ethylidene groups is 3 to 20:1 and the ethylidene groups are always separated by at least one methylene group, as biodegradable base oils for lubricants and functional fluids. Suitable polymethylalkanes are obtained by oligomerization of .alpha.,.omega.-diolefins, for example in particular according to P 41 19 332.6, or by pyrolysis of ethene/propane copolymers and subsequent hydrogenation in each case. The polymethylalkanes can be combined with conventional additives and other degradable or non-degradable base oils.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.