Low Noack volatility poly α-olefins
AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsMaria Caridad B. Goze, Norman Yang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to poly α-olefins (PAO's) which exhibit superior Noack volatility at low pour points. Mixtures of 1-decene and 1-dodecene are polymerized using an alcohol promoted BF3 in conjunction with a combination of cocatalysts. The reaction mixture is distilled to remove the unreacted monomeric and dimeric species. The resulting product is then hydrogenated to saturate the oliogomers to provide a hydrogenated product which has a viscosity of 5 cSt. This product is distilled to provide PAO's of varying viscosity grades. The 4 cSt PAO is comprised mostly of trimers and tetramers while the 6 cSt product is comprised of trimers, tetramers, and pentamers.
Claims23
A process for preparing a lubricant, which comprises
- (a) oligomerizing an α-olefin feed, wherein said feed is comprised of 50 to 80 weight percent of 1-decene and 50 to 20 weight percent of 1-dodecene, in the presence of BF3 and at least two different cocatalysts, wherein said cocatalysts are selected from groups (i) and (ii):
- (i) alcohols and
- (ii) alkyl acetates,
- provided that at least one cocatalyst is from group (i) and at least one cocatalyst is from group (ii);
- followed by
- (b) hydrogenation of at least a portion of residual unsaturation,
- wherein the lubricant possesses a Noack volatility of about 4 to 12% weight loss, as determined by a modified ASTM D5800 method, and a pour point of about −40° C. to −65° C., as determined by a modified ASTM D5950 method, wherein said modified ASTM D5800 method is an ASTM D5800 method, with the exception that thermometer calibration is preformed annually, and wherein said modified ASTM D5950 method is an ASTM D5950 method, with the exception that the lubricant to be tested is not heated prior to performing said method.
A process for preparing a lubricant, which comprises
- (a) oligomerizing an α-olefin feed, wherein said feed consists essentially of about 50 to 80 weight percent of 1-decene and 1-dodecene and 50 to 20 weight percent 1-dodecene, in the presence of BF3 and at least two different cocatalysts, wherein said cocatalysts are selected from the groups (i) and (ii):
- (i) alcohols and
- (ii) alkyl acetates, provided that at least one cocatalyst is from group (i) and at least one cocatalyst is from group (ii);
- followed by
- (b) hydrogenation of at least a portion of residual unsaturation. wherein the lubricant possesses a Noack volatility of about 6 to 10% weight loss, as determined by a modified ASTM D5800 method, and a pour point of about −50° C. to −58° C. as determined by a modified ASTM D5950 method;
- wherein said modified ASTM D5800 method is an ASTM D5800 method with the exception that thermometer calibration is performed annually;
- and wherein said modified ASTM D5950 method is an ASTM D5950 method with the exception that the lubricant to be tested is not heated prior to performing said method.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.