High- and low-viscosity estolide base oils and lubricants
AssigneeBiosynthetic Technologies, LLC
InventorJakob Bredsguard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are compounds of the formula: in which n is an integer equal to or greater than 1; R2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and R1, R3, and R4, independently for each occurrence, are selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched, wherein compositions comprising the compounds are characterized by particular combinations of values for estolide number, kinematic viscosity, and pour point. Also provided are compositions containing the compounds and methods of making both the compounds and compositions thereof.
Claims28
A method of retaining or decreasing the pour point of an estolide base oil by increasing the EN of the estolide base oil, said method comprising:
- selecting an estolide base oil having an initial EN and an initial pour point;
- and
- removing at least a portion of the estolide base oil, said portion exhibiting an EN that is less than the initial EN of the estolide base oil,
- wherein the resulting estolide base oil exhibits an EN that is greater than the initial EN of the estolide base oil, and a pour point that is equal to or lower than the initial pour point of the estolide base oil, and wherein EN is the average number of estolide linkages for estolide compounds comprising the estolide base oil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.