Functional fluids containing alkylene oxide copolymers having low pulmonary toxicity

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 65-95 wt % of the copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 3-20 wt % emulsifiers;
• c) 0-5 wt % antistatic agents;
• d) 0-5 wt % corrosion inhibitors;
• e) 0-5 wt % further additives;
• wherein said functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity lubricant for fiber production.

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 75-98 wt % of a copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 0-5 wt % metal passivators;
• c) 0-5 wt % antioxidants;
• d) 0-5 wt % corrosion inhibitors;
• e) 0-5 wt % antiwear and extreme pressure additives;
• f) 0-5 wt % further additives;
• wherein said functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity hydraulic fluid or a low inhalation toxicity gear lubricant, or a low inhalation toxicity compressor lubricant, or a low inhalation toxicity refrigeration lubricant, or a low inhalation toxicity mill and calender lubricant.

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 30-60 wt % of a copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 0-40 wt % glycols;
• c) 20-45 wt % water;
• d) 0-15 wt % polyalkylene thickener;
• e) 0-5 wt % metal passivators;
• f) 0-5 wt % antioxidants;
• g) 0-5 wt % corrosion inhibitors;
• h) 0-5 wt % boundary lubricants;
• wherein the functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity water glycol hydraulic fluid.

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 25-55 wt % of a copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 35-65 wt % water;
• c) 5-26 wt % metal passivators and corrosion inhibitors;
• d) 0-5 wt % antioxidants;
• e) 0-5 wt % antiwear and extreme pressure additives;
• f) 0-5 wt % further additives;
• wherein the functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity water soluble metalworking fluid.

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 50-99 wt % of a copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 0-30 wt % glycol ethers;
• c) 0-20 wt % glycols;
• d) 0-5 wt % metal passivators;
• e) 0-5 wt % antioxidants;
• f) 0-5 wt % corrosion inhibitors;
• g) 0-5 wt % antiwear and extreme pressure additives;
• h) 0-5 wt % further additives;
• wherein the functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity DOT 3 brake fluid.

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 85-98 wt % of a copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 0-5 wt % metal passivators;
• c) 0-5 wt % antioxidants;
• d) 0-5 wt % corrosion inhibitors;
• e) 0-5 wt % detergents;
• f) 0-5 wt % antiwear and extreme pressure additives;
• g) 0-5 wt % further additives;
• wherein the functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity 4-stroke engine lubricant or a low inhalation toxicity 2-cycle engine lubricant or a low inhalation toxicity universal transmission lubricant.

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 90-99 wt % of a copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 0-5 wt % antioxidants;
• c) 0-5 wt % further additives;
• wherein the functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity mandrel or mold release lubricant for processing of rubber based elastomers.

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 5-35 wt % of a copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 65-95 wt % water,
• c) 0-5 wt % corrosion inhibitors;
• d) 0-5 wt % further additives;
• wherein the functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity quenchant.

A functional fluid comprising

• a) 40-85 wt % of a copolymer which is obtainable by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide with a monool initiator, said copolymer having a degree of unsaturation of less than about 0.01 meq/g, wherein the monool initiator is n-butanol or a polyoxyalkylene monoether thereof containing from 1 to 20 oxyalkylene units;
• b) 0-45 wt % butanol initiated polypropylene glycol;
• c) 5-15 wt % thickeners;
• d) 0-5 wt % metal passivators;
• e) 0-5 wt % antioxidants;
• f) 0-5 wt % corrosion inhibitors;
• g) 0-5 wt % antiwear and extreme pressure additives;
• h) 0-5 wt % further additives;
• wherein the functional fluid is a low inhalation toxicity grease lubricant.