Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
LUBRICATION OIL COMPOSITIONS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to commonly owned U.S. Application Serial No.
11/593,954, filed November 7, 2006, entitled "POLYTRIMETHYLENE ETHER GLY-
COL ESTERS"; commonly owned U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/957,728
filed concurrently herewith, entitled "LUBRICATION OIL COMPOSITIONS"; commonly
owned U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/957,716, filed concurrently
herewith,
entitled "LUBRICATION OIL COMPOSITIONS"; and commonly owned U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/957722, filed concurrently herewith, entitled
"LUBRICATION
OIL COMPOSITIONS".
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates compositions comprising (i) a polytrimethylene ether
gly-
col and (ii) an acid ester (monoester and/or diester) of polytrimethylene
ether glycol,
and the use of such compositions as lubrication oils.
BACKGROUND
Certain mono- and diesters of polytrimethylene ether glycol ("PO3G esters")
have properties that make them useful in a variety of fields, including as
lubricants, as
disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Application Serial No. 11/593,954, filed
November
7, 2006, entitled "POLYTRIMETHYLENE ETHER GLYCOL ESTERS".
The present invention is directed to specific lubricant compositions based on
combinations of such PO3G esters with polytrimethylene ether glycol (PO3G).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of mixtures of one
or more PO3Gs and one or more PO3G esters, along with one or more additives,
as a
lubrication oils. The present invention thus provides a lubrication oil
composition com-
prising (i) a base fluid stock comprising a mixture of (a) a PO3G fluid (a
polytrimethyl-
ene ether glycol that is a fluid at ambient temperature) and (b) a PO3G ester
fluid (an
ester of a polytrimethylene ether glycol that is a fluid at ambient
temperature), and (ii)
one or more lube oil additives.
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When the PO3G and PO3G ester are based on biologically produced 1,3-
propanediol, lubricant compositions with a very high renewable content can be
pro-
vided.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have
the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to
which
this invention belongs. In case of conflict, the present specification,
including defini-
tions, will control.
Except where expressly noted, trademarks are shown in upper case.
Unless stated otherwise, all percentages, parts, ratios, etc., are by weight.
When an amount, concentration, or other value or parameter is given as either
a range, preferred range or a list of upper preferable values and lower
preferable val-
ues, this is to be understood as specifically disclosing all ranges formed
from any pair
of any upper range limit or preferred value and any lower range limit or
preferred value,
regardless of whether ranges are separately disclosed. Where a range of
numerical
values is recited herein, unless otherwise stated, the range is intended to
include the
endpoints thereof, and all integers and fractions within the range. It is not
intended that
the scope of the invention be limited to the specific values recited when
defining a
range.
When the term "about" is used in describing a value or an end-point of a
range,
the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or end-point
referred
to.
As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including,"
"has," "having" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-
exclusive
inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that
comprises a list
of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include
other
elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or
appara-
tus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an
inclusive or and
not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any
one of the
following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false
(or not pre-
sent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
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Use of "a" or "an" are employed to describe elements and components of the
invention. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of
the in-
vention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and
the singular
also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
The materials, methods, and examples herein are illustrative only and, except
as specifically stated, are not intended to be limiting. Although methods and
materials
similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or
testing of
the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described herein.
Base Fluid Stock
As indicated above, the base fluid stock for use in the lubrication oil
composi-
tions of the present invention comprises a mixture of a PO3G and a PO3G ester
that is
a fluid at ambient temperature (25 C). The base fluid stock may also comprise
other
natural and/or synthetic fluid co-lubricants.
Examples of natural fluid co-lubricants include vegetable oil-based
lubricants,
which are generally derived from plants and are generally composed of
triglycerides.
Normally, these are liquid at room temperature. Although many different parts
of
plants may yield oil, in actual practice oil is generally extracted primarily
from the seeds
of oilseed plants. These oils include both edible and inedible oils, and
include, for ex-
ample, high oleic sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, castor oil and the
like, as well
as modified oils such as disclosed in US6583302 (fatty acid esters) and I.
Malchev,
"Plant-Oil-Based Lubricants" (available from the Department of Plant
Agriculture, On-
tario Agriculture College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road W., Guelph,
Ontario,
Canada N1G 2W1).
Synthetic fluid co-lubricants (other than the PO3G and PO3G esters) include
lubricating oils such as hydrocarbon oils such as polybutylenes,
polypropylenes, pro-
pylene-isobutylene copolymers; polyoxyalkylene glycol polymers (other than
PO3G)
and their derivatives such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide copolymers;
and es-
ters of dicarboxylic acids with a variety of alcohols such as dibutyl adipate,
di(2-
ethylhexyl) sebacate , di-hexyl fumarate, dioctyl sebacate, diisoctyl azelate,
diisodecyl
azelate, dioctyl phthalate, didecyl phthalate, and the 2-ethylhexyl diester of
linoleic acid
dimer.
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Preferably, the base stock comprises a predominant amount of PO3G/PO3G
ester mixture (greater than 50 wt% based on the weight of the base stock). In
some
embodiments, the base stock can comprise the PO3G/PO3G ester mixture in an
amount of about 66 wt% or greater, or about 75 wt% or greater, or about 90 wt%
or
greater, or about 95 wt% or greater, based on the total weight of the base
fluid stock.
In some preferred embodiments, the base fluid stock comprises only (or
substantially
only) the PO3G/PO3G ester mixture.
In one embodiment, the weight ratio of PO3G/PO3G ester in the base fluid
stock is greater than 1:1 (the PO3G being the predominant component), or about
1.5:1
or greater, or about 2:1 or greater, or about 5:1 or greater, or about 20:1 or
greater.
Also, the weight ratio is preferably about 25:1 or less, or about 20:1 or
less, or about
10:1 or less.
In another embodiment, the weight ratio of PO3G ester/PO3G in the base fluid
stock is greater than 1:1 (the PO3G ester being the predominant component), or
about
1.5:1 or greater, or about 2:1 or greater, or about 5:1 or greater, or about
20:1 or
greater. Also, the weight ratio is preferably about 25:1 or less, or about
20:1 or less, or
about 10:1 or less.
In yet another embodiment, the weight ratio of PO3G/PO3G ester in the base
fluid stock is about 1:1 (approximately equivalent weight amounts of the two
compo-
nents).
The lubrication oil composition preferably comprises the base oil stock in an
amount of about 50 wt% or greater, based on the total weight of the
lubrication oil
composition. In various embodiments, the lubrication oil can comprise the base
stock
in an amount of about 75 wt% or greater, or about 90 wt% or greater, or about
95 wt%
or greater, based on the total weight of the lubrication oil composition.
Mono- and Diesters of Polytrimethylene Ether Glycol
In some embodiments, the PO3G esters comprise one or more compounds of
the formula (I):
0
11
R1-O-O-Q- 0-R2 (I)
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wherein Q represents the residue of a polytrimethylene ether glycol after
abstraction of
the hydroxyl groups, R2 is H or R3CO, and each of R, and R3 is individually a
substi-
tuted or unsubstituted aromatic, saturated aliphatic, unsaturated aliphatic or
cyclo-
aliphatic organic group, containing 4 to 40 carbon atoms, preferably at least
6 carbon
atoms, more preferably at least 8 carbon atoms. In some embodiments each of R,
and
R3 has 20 carbon atoms or fewer, and in some embodiments 10 carbon atoms or
fewer. In some preferred embodiments, each of R, and R3 has 8 carbon atoms.
PO3G esters are preferably prepared by polycondensation of hydroxyl groups-
containing monomers (monomers containing 2 or more hydroxyl groups)
predominantly
comprising 1,3-propanediol to form a PO3G (as disclosed in further detail
below), fol-
lowed by esterification with a monocarboxylic acid (or equivalent), as
disclosed in U.S.
Application Serial No. 11/593,954, filed November 7, 2006, entitled "POLY-
TRIMETHYLENE ETHER GLYCOL ESTERS".
The PO3G ester thus prepared is a composition preferably comprising from
about 50 to 100 wt%, more preferably from about 75 to 100 wt%, diester and
from 0 to
about 50 wt%, more preferably from 0 to about 25 wt%, monoester, based on the
total
weight of the esters. Preferably the mono- and diesters are esters of 2-
ethylhexanoic
acid.
The PO3G used for preparing the ester need not be the same as the PO3G co-
component of the base fluid stock.
Polytrimethylene Ether Glycol (PO3G)
PO3G for the purposes of the present invention is an oligomeric or polymeric
ether glycol in which at least 50% of the repeating units are trimethylene
ether units.
More preferably from about 75% to 100%, still more preferably from about 90%
to
100%, and even more preferably from about 99% to 100%, of the repeating units
are
trimethylene ether units.
PO3G is preferably prepared by polycondensation of monomers comprising
1,3-propanediol, preferably in the presence of an acid catalyst, thus
resulting in poly-
mers or copolymers containing -(CH2CH2CH2O)- linkage (e.g, trimethylene ether
re-
peating units). As indicated above, at least 50% of the repeating units are
trimethylene
ether units.
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When a sulfur-based acid catalyst is utilized (such as sulfuric acid) to
prepare
the PO3G, the resulting product preferably contains less than about 20 ppm,
more
preferably less than about 10 ppm, of sulfur.
In addition to the trimethylene ether units, lesser amounts of other units,
such
as other polyalkylene ether repeating units, may be present. In the context of
this dis-
closure, the term "polytrimethylene ether glycol" encompasses PO3G made from
es-
sentially pure 1,3-propanediol, as well as those oligomers and polymers
(including
those described below) containing up to about 50% by weight of comonomers.
The 1,3-propanediol employed for preparing the PO3G may be obtained by any
of the various well known chemical routes or by biochemical transformation
routes.
Preferred routes are described in, for example, US5015789, US5276201,
US5284979,
US5334778, US5364984, US5364987, US5633362, US5686276, US5821092,
US5962745, US6140543, US6232511, US6235948, US6277289, US6297408,
US6331264, US6342646, US7038092, US7084311, US7098368, US7009082 and
US20050069997A1.
Preferably, the 1,3-propanediol is obtained biochemically from a renewable
source ("biologically-derived" 1,3-propanediol).
A particularly preferred source of 1,3-propanediol is via a fermentation
process
using a renewable biological source. As an illustrative example of a starting
material
from a renewable source, biochemical routes to 1,3-propanediol (PDO) have been
de-
scribed that utilize feedstocks produced from biological and renewable
resources such
as corn feed stock. For example, bacterial strains able to convert glycerol
into 1,3-
propanediol are found in the species Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Clostridium, and
Lactoba-
cillus. The technique is disclosed in several publications, including
US5633362,
US5686276 and US5821092. US5821092 discloses, inter alia, a process for the
bio-
logical production of 1,3-propanediol from glycerol using recombinant
organisms. The
process incorporates E. coli bacteria, transformed with a heterologous pdu
diol dehy-
dratase gene, having specificity for 1,2-propanediol. The transformed E. coli
is grown
in the presence of glycerol as a carbon source and 1,3-propanediol is isolated
from the
growth media. Since both bacteria and yeasts can convert glucose (e.g., corn
sugar)
or other carbohydrates to glycerol, the processes disclosed in these
publications pro-
vide a rapid, inexpensive and environmentally responsible source of 1,3-
propanediol
monomer.
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The biologically-derived 1,3-propanediol, such as produced by the processes
described and referenced above, contains carbon from the atmospheric carbon
dioxide
incorporated by plants, which compose the feedstock for the production of the
1,3-
propanediol. In this way, the biologically-derived 1,3-propanediol preferred
for use in
the context of the present invention contains only renewable carbon, and not
fossil
fuel-based or petroleum-based carbon. The PO3G and esters thereon utilizing
the bio-
logically-derived 1,3-propanediol, therefore, have less impact on the
environment as
the 1,3-propanediol used in the compositions does not deplete diminishing
fossil fuels
and, upon degradation, releases carbon back to the atmosphere for use by
plants once
again. Thus, the compositions of the present invention can be characterized as
more
natural and having less environmental impact than similar compositions
comprising
petroleum based glycols.
The biologically-derived 1,3-propanediol, PO3G and PO3G esters, may be dis-
tinguished from similar compounds produced from a petrochemical source or from
fos-
sil fuel carbon by dual carbon-isotopic finger printing. This method usefully
distin-
guishes chemically-identical materials, and apportions carbon in the copolymer
by
source (and possibly year) of growth of the biospheric (plant) component. The
iso-
topes, 14 C and13C, bring complementary information to this problem. The
radiocarbon
dating isotope (14C), with its nuclear half life of 5730 years, clearly allows
one to appor-
tion specimen carbon between fossil ("dead") and biospheric ("alive")
feedstocks (Cur-
rie, L. A. "Source Apportionment of Atmospheric Particles," Characterization
of Envi-
ronmental Particles, J. Buffle and H.P. van Leeuwen, Eds., 1 of Vol. I of the
IUPAC
Environmental Analytical Chemistry Series (Lewis Publishers, Inc) (1992) 3-
74). The
basic assumption in radiocarbon dating is that the constancy of 14C
concentration in
the atmosphere leads to the constancy of 14C in living organisms. When dealing
with
an isolated sample, the age of a sample can be deduced approximately by the
rela-
tionship:
t = (-5730/0.693)ln(A/Ao)
wherein t = age, 5730 years is the half-life of radiocarbon, and A and Ao are
the spe-
cific14C activity of the sample and of the modern standard, respectively
(Hsieh, Y., Soil
Sci. Soc. Am J., 56, 460, (1992)). However, because of atmospheric nuclear
testing
since 1950 and the burning of fossil fuel since 1850, 14C has acquired a
second, geo-
chemical time characteristic. Its concentration in atmospheric C02, and hence
in the
living biosphere, approximately doubled at the peak of nuclear testing, in the
mid-
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1960s. It has since been gradually returning to the steady-state cosmogenic
(atmos-
pheric) baseline isotope rate (14C/12C) of ca. 1.2 x 10-12, with an
approximate relaxation
"half-life" of 7-10 years. (This latter half-life must not be taken literally;
rather, one must
use the detailed atmospheric nuclear input/decay function to trace the
variation of at-
mospheric and biospheric 14C since the onset of the nuclear age.) It is this
latter bio-
spheric 14C time characteristic that holds out the promise of annual dating of
recent
biospheric carbon. 14C can be measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS),
with results given in units of "fraction of modern carbon" (fM). fM is defined
by National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Materials
(SRMs)
4990B and 4990C, known as oxalic acids standards HOxI and HOxII, respectively.
The fundamental definition relates to 0.95 times the 14C/12C isotope ratio
HOxI (refer-
enced to AD 1950). This is roughly equivalent to decay-corrected pre-
Industrial Revo-
lution wood. For the current living biosphere (plant material), fM =1.1.
The stable carbon isotope ratio (13C/12C) provides a complementary route to
source discrimination and apportionment. The13C/12C ratio in a given
biosourced ma-
terial is a consequence of the13C/12C ratio in atmospheric carbon dioxide at
the time
the carbon dioxide is fixed and also reflects the precise metabolic pathway.
Regional
variations also occur. Petroleum, C3 plants (the broadleaf), C4 plants (the
grasses),
and marine carbonates all show significant differences in13C/12C and the
correspond-
ing b13C values. Furthermore, lipid matter of C3 and C4 plants analyze
differently than
materials derived from the carbohydrate components of the same plants as a
conse-
quence of the metabolic pathway. Within the precision of measurement, 13C
shows
large variations due to isotopic fractionation effects, the most significant
of which for
the instant invention is the photosynthetic mechanism. The major cause of
differences
in the carbon isotope ratio in plants is closely associated with differences
in the path-
way of photosynthetic carbon metabolism in the plants, particularly the
reaction occur-
ring during the primary carboxylation, i.e., the initial fixation of
atmospheric CO2. Two
large classes of vegetation are those that incorporate the "C3" (or Calvin-
Benson) pho-
tosynthetic cycle and those that incorporate the "C4" (or Hatch-Slack)
photosynthetic
cycle. C3 plants, such as hardwoods and conifers, are dominant in the
temperate cli-
mate zones. In C3 plants, the primary CO2 fixation or carboxylation reaction
involves
the enzyme ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase and the first stable product
is a
3-carbon compound. C4 plants, on the other hand, include such plants as
tropical
grasses, corn and sugar cane. In C4 plants, an additional carboxylation
reaction involv-
ing another enzyme, phosphenol-pyruvate carboxylase, is the primary
carboxylation
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reaction. The first stable carbon compound is a 4-carbon acid, which is
subsequently
decarboxylated. The CO2 thus released is refixed by the C3 cycle.
Both C4 and C3 plants exhibit a range of13C/12C isotopic ratios, but typical
val-
ues are ca. -10 to -14 per mil (C4) and -21 to -26 per mil (C3) (Weber et al.,
J. Agric.
Food Chem., 45, 2942 (1997)). Coal and petroleum fall generally in this latter
range.
The 13C measurement scale was originally defined by a zero set by pee dee
belemnite
(PDB) limestone, where values are given in parts per thousand deviations from
this
material. The "()13C" values are in parts per thousand (per mil), abbreviated
%, and are
calculated as follows:
b13C (13C/12C sample -(13C/12C)standard x 1000%
(13C/12C)standard
Since the PDB reference material (RM) has been exhausted, a series of
alternative
RMs have been developed in cooperation with the IAEA, USGS, NIST, and other se-
lected international isotope laboratories. Notations for the per mil
deviations from PDB
is b13C. Measurements are made on CO2 by high precision stable ratio mass spec-
trometry (IRMS) on molecular ions of masses 44, 45 and 46.
Biologically-derived 1,3-propanediol, and compositions comprising biologically-
derived 1,3-propanediol, therefore, may be completely distinguished from their
petro-
chemical derived counterparts on the basis of 14C (fM) and dual carbon-
isotopic finger-
printing, indicating new compositions of matter. The ability to distinguish
these prod-
ucts is beneficial in tracking these materials in commerce. For example,
products
comprising both "new" and "old" carbon isotope profiles may be distinguished
from
products made only of "old" materials. Hence, the instant materials may be
followed in
commerce on the basis of their unique profile and for the purposes of defining
competi-
tion, for determining shelf life, and especially for assessing environmental
impact.
Preferably the 1,3-propanediol used as the reactant or as a component of the
reactant will have a purity of greater than about 99%, and more preferably
greater than
about 99.9%, by weight as determined by gas chromatographic analysis.
Particularly
preferred are the purified 1,3-propanediols as disclosed in US7038092,
US7098368,
US7084311 and US20050069997A1, as well as PO3G made therefrom as disclosed
in US20050020805A1.
The purified 1,3-propanediol preferably has the following characteristics:
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(1) an ultraviolet absorption at 220 nm of less than about 0.200, and at 250
nm
of less than about 0.075, and at 275 nm of less than about 0.075; and/or
(2) a composition having L*a*b* "b*" color value of less than about 0.15 (ASTM
D6290), and an absorbance at 270 nm of less than about 0.075; and/or
(3) a peroxide composition of less than about 10 ppm; and/or
(4) a concentration of total organic impurities (organic compounds other than
1,3-propanediol) of less than about 400 ppm, more preferably less than about
300
ppm, and still more preferably less than about 150 ppm, as measured by gas
chroma-
tography.
The starting material for making PO3G will depend on the desired PO3G, avail-
ability of starting materials, catalysts, equipment, etc., and comprises "1,3-
propanediol
reactant." By "1,3-propanediol reactant" is meant 1,3-propanediol, and
oligomers and
prepolymers of 1,3-propanediol preferably having a degree of polymerization of
2 to 9,
and mixtures thereof. In some instances, it may be desirable to use up to 10%
or more
of low molecular weight oligomers where they are available. Thus, preferably
the start-
ing material comprises 1,3-propanediol and the dimer and trimer thereof. A
particularly
preferred starting material is comprised of about 90% by weight or more 1,3-
propanediol, and more preferably 99% by weight or more 1,3-propanediol, based
on
the weight of the 1,3-propanediol reactant.
PO3G can be made via a number of processes known in the art, such as dis-
closed in US6977291 and US6720459. The preferred processes are as set forth in
US7074969, US7157607, US7161045 and US7164046.
As indicated above, PO3G may contain lesser amounts of other polyalkylene
ether repeating units in addition to the trimethylene ether units. The
monomers for use
in preparing polytrimethylene ether glycol can, therefore, contain up to 50%
by weight
(preferably about 20 wt% or less, more preferably about 10 wt% or less, and
still more
preferably about 2 wt% or less), of comonomer polyols in addition to the
1,3-propanediol reactant. Comonomer polyols that are suitable for use in the
process
include aliphatic diols, for example, ethylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-
heptanediol,
1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,12-dodecanediol,
3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluro-1,5-pentanediol, 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1,6-
hexanediol, and
3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10-hexadecafluoro-1,12-dodecanediol;
cycloaliphatic di-
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ols, for example, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and
isosorbide; and
polyhydroxy compounds, for example, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, and
pentaerythritol.
A preferred group of comonomer diols is selected from the group consisting of
ethylene
glycol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2-diethyl-
1,3-
propanediol, 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol, C6 - C,o diols (such
as
1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol and 1,10-decanediol) and isosorbide, and
mixtures
thereof. A particularly preferred diol other than 1,3-propanediol is ethylene
glycol, and
C6 - C,o diols can be particularly useful as well.
One preferred PO3G containing comonomers is poly(trimethylene-ethylene
ether) glycol such as described in US20040030095A1. Preferred
poly(trimethylene-
ethylene ether) glycols are prepared by acid catalyzed polycondensation of
from 50 to
about 99 mole% (preferably from about 60 to about 98 mole%, and more
preferably
from about 70 to about 98 mole%) 1,3-propanediol and up to 50 to about 1 mole%
(preferably from about 40 to about 2 mole%, and more preferably from about 30
to
about 2 mole%) ethylene glycol.
Preferably, the PO3G after purification has essentially no acid catalyst end
groups, but may contain very low levels of unsaturated end groups,
predominately allyl
end groups, in the range of from about 0.003 to about 0.03 meq/g. Such a PO3G
can
be considered to comprise or consist essentially of the compounds having the
following
formulae (II) and (III):
HO-((CH2)30)m-H (II)
HO-((CH2)3-O)mCH2CH=CH2 (III)
wherein m is in a range such that the Mn (number average molecular weight) is
within
the range of from about 200 to about 10000, with compounds of formula (I II)
being pre-
sent in an amount such that the allyl end groups (preferably all unsaturation
ends or
end groups) are present in the range of from about 0.003 to about 0.03 meq/g.
The preferred PO3G for use in the invention has an Mn (number average mo-
lecular weight) of at least about 250, more preferably at least about 1000,
and still
more preferably at least about 2000. The Mn is preferably less than about
10000,
more preferably less than about 5000, and still more preferably less than
about 3500.
Blends of PO3Gs can also be used. For example, the PO3G can comprise a blend
of
a higher and a lower molecular weight PO3G, preferably wherein the higher
molecular
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weight PO3G has a number average molecular weight of from about 1000 to about
5000, and the lower molecular weight PO3G has a number average molecular
weight
of from about 200 to about 950. The Mn of the blended PO3G will preferably
still be in
the ranges mentioned above.
PO3G preferred for use herein is typically polydisperse having a
polydispersity
(i.e. Mw/Mn) of preferably from about 1.0 to about 2.2, more preferably from
about 1.2
to about 2.2, and still more preferably from about 1.5 to about 2.1. The
polydispersity
can be adjusted by using blends of P03G.
PO3G for use in the present invention preferably has a color value of less
than
about 100 APHA, and more preferably less than about 50 APHA, and a viscosity
which
is preferably greater than the viscosity of the PO3G ester. A preferred
viscosity is
about 100cS or greater at 40 C.
Acid and Eguivalents
The esterification of the PO3G is carried out by reaction with an acid and/or
equivalent, preferably a monocarboxylic acid and/or equivalent.
By "monocarboxylic acid equivalent" is meant compounds that perform sub-
stantially like monocarboxylic acids in reaction with polymeric glycols and
diols, as
would be generally recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the relevant
art. Mono-
carboxylic acid equivalents for the purpose of the present invention include,
for exam-
ple, esters of monocarboxylic acids, and ester-forming derivatives such as
acid halides
(e.g., acid chlorides) and anhydrides.
Preferably, a monocarboxylic acid is used having the formula R-COOH,
wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic, aliphatic or
cycloaliphatic organic
moiety containing from 6 to 40 carbon atoms.
Mixtures of different monocarboxylic acids and/or equivalents are also
suitable.
As indicated above, the monocarboxylic acid (or equivalent) can be aromatic,
aliphatic or cycloaliphatic. In this regard, "aromatic" monocarboxylic acids
are mono-
carboxylic acids in which a carboxyl group is attached to a carbon atom in a
benzene
ring system such as those mentioned below. "Aliphatic" monocarboxylic acids
are
monocarboxylic acids in which a carboxyl group is attached to a fully
saturated carbon
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atom or to a carbon atom which is part of an olefinic double bond. If the
carbon atom
is in a ring, the equivalent is "cycloaliphatic."
The monocarboxylic acid (or equivalent) can contain any substituent groups or
combinations thereof (such as functional groups like amide, amine, carbonyl,
halide,
hydroxyl, etc.), so long as the substituent groups do not interfere with the
esterification
reaction or adversely affect the properties of the resulting ester product.
The monocarboxylic acids and equivalents can be from any source, but pref-
erably are derived from natural sources or are bio-derived.
The following acids and their derivatives are specifically preferred: lauric,
myris-
tic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, benzoic, caprylic, erucic, palmitoleic,
pentadecanoic,
heptadecanoic, nonadecanoic, linoleic, arachidonic, oleic, valeric, caproic,
capric and
2-ethylhexanoic acids, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred acids or
derivatives
thereof are 2-ethylhexanoic acid, benzoic acid, stearic acid, lauric acid and
oleic acid.
Esterification Process
For preparation of the esters, the PO3G can be contacted, preferably in the
presence of an inert gas, with the monocarboxylic acid(s) at temperatures
ranging from
about 100 C to about 275 C, preferably from about 125 C to about 250 C. The
proc-
ess can be carried out at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum. During the
contact-
ing water is formed is formed and can be removed in the inert gas stream or
under
vacuum to drive the reaction to completion.
To facilitate the reaction of PO3G with carboxylic acid an esterfication
catalyst
is generally used, preferably a mineral acid catalyst. Examples of mineral
acid cata-
lysts include but are not restricted to sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid,
phosphoric acid,
hydriodic acid, and heterogeneous catalysts such as zeolites, heteropolyacid,
amber-
lyst, and ion exchange resin. Preferred esterification acid catalysts are
selected from
the group consisting of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid and
hydroiodic
acid. A particularly preferred mineral acid catalyst is sulfuric acid.
The amount of catalyst used can be from about 0.01 wt% to about 10 wt% of
the reaction mixture, preferably from 0.1 wt% to about 5 wt%, and more
preferably
from about 0.2 wt% to about 2 wt%, of the reaction mixture.
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Any ratio of carboxylic acid, or derivatives thereof, to glycol hydroxyl
groups can
be used. The preferred ratio of acid to hydroxyl groups is from about 3:1 to
about 1:2,
where the ratio can be adjusted to shift the ratio of monoester to diester in
the product.
Generally to favor production of diesters slightly more than a 1:1 ratio is
used. To favor
production of monoesters, a 0.5:1 ratio or less of acid to hydroxyl is used.
A preferred method for esterification comprises polycondensing 1,3-propanediol
reactant to polytrimethylene ether glycol using a mineral acid catalyst, then
adding car-
boxylic acid and carrying out the esterification without isolating and
purifying the
P03G. In this method, the etherification or polycondensation of 1,3-
propanediol reac-
tant to form polytrimethylene ether glycol is carried out using an acid
catalyst as dis-
closed in US6977291 and US6720459. The etherification reaction may also be
carried
out using a polycondensation catalyst that contains both an acid and a base as
de-
scribed in JP2004-182974A. The polycondensation or etherification reaction is
contin-
ued until desired molecular weight is reached, and then the calculated amount
of
monocarboxylic acid is added to the reaction mixture. The reaction is
continued while
the water byproduct is removed. At this stage both esterification and
etherification re-
actions occur simultaneously. Thus, in this preferred esterification method
the acid
catalyst used for polycondensation of diol is also used for esterification. If
necessary
additional esterification catalyst can be added at the esterification stage.
In this procedure, the viscosity (molecular weight) of the resulting product
is
controlled by the point at which the carboxylic acid is added.
In an alternative procedure, the esterification reaction can be carried out on
pu-
rified PO3G by addition of an esterification catalyst and carboxylic acid
followed by
heating and removal of water. In this procedure, viscosity of the resulting
product is
predominantly a function of the molecular weight of the PO3G utilized.
Regardless of which esterification procedure is followed, after the
esterification
step any by products are removed, and then the catalyst residues remaining
from poly-
condensation and/or esterification are removed in order to obtain an ester
product that
is stable, particularly at high temperatures. This may be accomplished by
hydrolysis of
the crude ester product by treatment with water at about 80 C to about 100 C
for a
time sufficient to hydrolyze any residual acid esters derived from the
catalyst without
impacting significantly the carboxylic acid esters. The time required can vary
from
about 1 to about 8 hours. If the hydrolysis is carried out under pressure,
higher tem-
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peratures and correspondingly shorter times are possible. At this point the
product
may contain diesters, monoesters, or a combination of diesters and monoesters,
and
small amounts of acid catalyst, unreacted carboxylic acid and diol depending
on the
reaction conditions. The hydrolyzed polymer is further purified to remove
water, acid
catalyst and unreacted carboxylic acid by the known conventional techniques
such as
water washings, base neutralization, filtration and/or distillation. Unreacted
diol and
acid catalyst can, for example, be removed by washing with deionized water.
Unre-
acted carboxylic acid also can be removed, for example, by washing with
deionized
water or aqueous base solutions, or by vacuum stripping.
Hydrolysis is generally followed by one or more water washing steps to remove
acid catalyst, and drying, preferably under vacuum, to obtain the ester
product. The
water washing also serves to remove unreacted diol. Any unreacted
monocarboxylic
acid present may also be removed in the water washing, but may also be removed
by
washing with aqueous base or by vacuum stripping.
If desired, the product can be fractionated further to isolate low molecular
weight esters by a fractional distillation under reduced pressure.
Proton NMR and wavelength X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic methods can be
used to identify and quantify any residual catalyst (such as sulfur) present
in the poly-
mer. The proton NMR can, for example, identify the sulfate ester groups
present in the
polymer chain, and wavelength x-ray fluorescence method can determine the
total sul-
fur (inorganic and organic sulfur) present in the polymer. The esters of the
invention
made from the process described above are substantially sulfur free and thus
useful
for high temperature applications.
Preferably, the PO3G esters after purification have essentially no acid
catalyst
end groups, but may contain very low levels of unsaturated end groups,
predominately
allyl end groups, in the range of from about 0.003 to about 0.03 meq/g. Such
PO3G
ester can be considered to comprise (consist essentially of) the compounds
having the
following formulae (IV) and (V):
R1-C(O)-O-((CH2)30)m R2 (IV)
R1-C(O)-O-((CH2)3-O)mCH2CH=CH2 (V)
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wherein R2 is H or R3C(O); each of R, and R3 is individually a substituted or
unsubsti-
tuted aromatic, saturated aliphatic, unsaturated aliphatic, or cycloaliphatic
organic
group containing from 6 to 40 carbon atoms; m is in a range such that the Mn
is within
the range of from about 200 to about 10000; and with compounds of formula
(III) being
present in an amount such that the allyl end groups (preferably all
unsaturation ends or
end groups) are present in the range of from about 0.003 to about 0.03 meq/g.
Preferably, the PO3G ester has a viscosity which is less than the viscosity of
P03G. Preferred viscosities of PO3G esters range from about 20cS to about 150
cS
at 40 C, and more preferably are about 100cS or less.
Other preferred properties of the PO3G esters can be determined based upon
the preferences stated above for PO3G in and of itself. For example, preferred
mo-
lecular weights and polydispersities are based on the preferred molecular
weights and
polydispersities of the PO3G component of the ester.
Additives
Synthetic lube oil compositions in accordance with the present invention com-
prise a mixture of the base stock and one or more additives, where each
additive is
employed for the purpose of improving the performance and properties of the
base
stock in its intended application, e.g., as a hydraulic fluid, a gear oil, a
brake fluid, a
compressor lubricant, a textile and calender lubricant, a metalworking fluid,
a refrigera-
tion lubricant, a two-cycle engine lubricant and/or crankcase lubricant.
The additives can generally be added in amounts based on the type of additive
and desired level of additive effect, which can generally be determined by
those skilled
in the relevant art.
Preferably the additives are miscible in either or both of the PO3G and PO3G
esters.
Preferably, the lube oil additive(s) comprise at least one of ashless
dispersant,
metal detergent, viscosity modifier, anti-wear agent, antioxidant, friction
modifier, pour
point depressant, anti-foaming agent, corrosion inhibitor, demulsifier, rust
inhibitor and
mixtures thereof.
When the lube oil composition is used as a refrigeration lubricant, the lube
oil
additive(s) preferably comprise at least one of extreme pressure and antiwear
additive,
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oxidation and thermal stability improver, corrosion inhibitor, viscosity index
improver,
pour point depressant, floc point depressant, detergent, anti-foaming agent,
viscosity
adjuster and mixtures thereof.
It is intended to be within the scope of the present invention to use any one
or
more of the specified additives alone or in combination with one or more of
the remain-
ing specified additives. It is also within the scope of the present invention
to use more
than one of any specified additive, e.g., one or more friction modifiers,
either alone or
in combination of one or more of the other specified additives, e.g., in
combination with
one or more corrosion inhibitors.
The individual additives may be incorporated into a base stock in any conven-
ient way. Thus, each of the components can be added directly to the base stock
by
dispersing or dissolving it in the base stock at the desired level of
concentration. Such
blending may occur at ambient temperature or at an elevated temperature.
Alternatively, all or some of the additives can be blended into a concentrate
or
additive package that is subsequently blended into base stock to make finished
lubri-
cant. The concentrate will typically be formulated to contain the additive(s)
in proper
amounts to provide the desired concentration in the formulation when the
concentrate
is combined with a predetermined amount of base lubricant.
Non-limiting, illustrative examples of various additives follow.
The ashless dispersant comprises polymeric hydrocarbon backbone having
functional groups that are capable of associating with particles to be
dispersed. Typi-
cally, the dispersants comprise amine, alcohol, amide and/or ester polar
moieties at-
tached to the polymer backbone often via a bridging group. The ashless
dispersant
may be, for example, selected from salts, esters, amino-esters, amides, imides
and
oxazolines of long chain hydrocarbon substituted mono- and dicarboxylic acids
and/or
their anhydrides, thiocarboxylate derivatives of long chain hydrocarbons, long
chain
aliphatic hydrocarbons having a polyamine attached directly thereto, and
Mannich
condensation products formed by condensing a long chain substituted phenol
with
formaldehyde and polyalkylene polyamine.
The viscosity modifier (VM) functions to impart high and low temperature oper-
ability to a lubricating oil. The VM used may have that sole function, or may
be multi-
functional.
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Multifunctional viscosity modifiers that also function as dispersants are also
known. Illustrative viscosity modifiers are polyisobutylene, copolymers of
ethylene and
propylene and higher alpha-olefins, polymethacrylates, polyalkylmethacrylates,
meth-
acrylate copolymers, copolymers of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and a
vinyl com-
pound, inter polymers of styrene and acrylic esters, and partially
hydrogenated co-
polymers of styrene/isoprene, styrene/butadiene, and isoprene/butadiene, as
well as
the partially hydrogenated homopolymers of butadiene and isoprene and iso-
prene/divinylbenzene.
Metal-containing or ash-forming detergents function both as detergents to re-
duce or remove deposits and as acid neutralizers or rust inhibitors, thereby
reducing
wear and corrosion and extending engine life. Detergents generally comprise a
polar
head with long hydrophobic tail, with the polar head comprising a metal salt
of an acid
organic compound. The salts may contain a substantially stoichiometric amount
of the
metal in which they are usually described as normal or neutral salts, and
would typi-
cally have a total base number (TBN), as may be measured by ASTM D-2896 of
from
0 to about 80. It is possible to include large amounts of a metal base by
reacting an
excess of a metal compound such as an oxide or hydroxide with an acid gas such
as
carbon dioxide. The resulting overbased detergent comprises neutralized
detergent as
the outer layer of a metal base (e.g., carbonate) micelle. Such overbased
detergents
may have a TBN of about 150 or greater, and typically from about 250 to about
450 or
more.
Illustrative detergents include neutral and overbased sulfonates, phenates,
sul-
furized phenates, thiophosphonates, salicylates, and naphthenates and other
oil-
soluble carboxylates of a metal, particularly the alkali or alkaline earth
metals, e.g., so-
dium, potassium, lithium, calcium, and magnesium. The most commonly used
metals
are calcium and magnesium, which may both be present in detergents used in a
lubri-
cant, and mixtures of calcium and/or magnesium with sodium. Particularly
convenient
metal detergents are neutral and overbased calcium sulfonates having TBN of
from
about 20 to about 450, and neutral and overbased calcium phenates and
sulfurized
phenates having TBN of from about 50 to about 450.
Dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate metal salts are frequently used as anti-wear and
antioxidant agents. The metal may be an alkali or alkaline earth metal, or
aluminum,
lead, tin, molybdenum, manganese, nickel or copper. The zinc salts are most
com-
monly used in lubricating oil in amounts of from about 0.1 to about 10 wt%,
preferably
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from about 0.2 to about 2 wt%, based upon the total weight of the lubricating
oil com-
position. They may be prepared in accordance with known techniques by first
forming
a dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphoric acid (DDPA), usually by reaction of one or
more alco-
hol or a phenol with P2S5 and then neutralizing the formed DDPA with a zinc
com-
pound. For example, a dithiophosphoric acid may be made by reacting mixtures
of
primary and secondary alcohols. Alternatively, multiple dithiophosphoric acids
can be
prepared where the hydrocarbyl groups on one are entirely secondary in
character and
the hydrocarbyl groups on the others are entirely primary in character. To
make the
zinc salt any basic or neutral zinc compound could be used but the oxides,
hydroxides
and carbonates are most generally employed. Commercial additives frequently
contain
an excess of zinc due to use of an excess of the basic zinc compound in the
neutrali-
zation reaction.
In one embodiment, however, the lube oil compositions are preferably substan-
tially zinc free.
Oxidation inhibitors or antioxidants reduce the tendency of base stocks to
dete-
riorate in service which deterioration can be evidenced by the products of
oxidation
such as sludge and varnish-like deposits on the metal surfaces and by
viscosity
growth. Such oxidation inhibitors include hindered phenols, alkaline earth
metal salts
of alkylphenolthioesters having preferably C5 to C12 alkyl side chains,
calcium nonyl-
phenol sulfide, ashless oil soluble phenates and sulfurized phenates,
phosphosul-
furized or sulfurized hydrocarbons, phosphorous esters, metal thiocarbamates,
oil-
soluble copper compounds as described in US4867890, and molybdenum containing
compounds.
Friction modifiers may be included to improve fuel economy. Oil-soluble alkoxy-
lated mono- and di-amines are well known to improve boundary layer
lubrication. The
amines may be used as such or in the form of an adduct or reaction product
with a bo-
ron compound such as boric oxide, boron halide, metaborate, boric acid or a
mono-, di-
or tri-alkyl borate.
Other friction modifiers are known. Among these are esters formed by reacting
carboxylic acids and anhydrides with alkanols. Other conventional friction
modifiers
generally consist of a polar terminal group (e.g. carboxyl or hydroxyl)
covalently
bonded to an oleophilic hydrocarbon chain. Esters of carboxylic acids and
anhydrides
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with alkanols are described in US4702850. An example of another conventional
fric-
tion modifier is organo-metallic molybdenum.
Illustrative rust inhibitors are selected from the group of nonionic polyoxyal-
kylene polyols and esters thereof, polyoxyalkylene phenols, and anionic alkyl
sulfonic
acids.
Copper and lead bearing corrosion inhibitors may also be used. Typically such
compounds are the thiadiazole polysulfides containing from 5 to 50 carbon
atoms, their
derivatives and polymers thereof. Other additives are the thio- and polythio-
sulfena-
mides of thiadiazoles such as those described in UK1560830. Benzotriazole
deriva-
tives also fall within this class of additives.
An illustrative example of demulsifying component is described in
EP-A-0330522. It is obtained by reacting an alkylene oxide with an adduct
obtained by
reacting a bis-epoxide with a polyhydric alcohol.
Pour point depressants, otherwise known as lube oil improvers, lower the
minimum temperature at which the fluid will flow or can be poured. Such
additives are
well known. Typical of those additives which improve the low temperature
fluidity of the
fluid are C8 and C18 dialkyl fumarate/vinyl acetate copolymers,
polyalkylmethacrylates
and the like.
Foam control can be provided by many compounds including an antifoamant of
the polysiloxane type, for example, silicone oil or polydimethyl siloxane.
Some of the above-mentioned additives can provide a multiplicity of effects;
thus, for example, a single additive may act as a dispersant-oxidation
inhibitor. This
approach is well known and does not require further elaboration.
Illustrative, non-limiting examples of additives specific to use in
compression re-
frigeration systems follow.
Illustrative extreme pressure and antiwear additives include phosphates, phos-
phate esters (bicresyl phosphate), phosphites, thiophosphates (zinc
diorganodithio-
phosphates) chlorinated waxes, sulfurized fats and olefins, organic lead
compounds,
fatty acids, molybdenum complexes, halogen substituted organosilicon
compounds,
borates, organic esters, halogen substituted phosphorous compounds, sulfurized
Diels
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Alder adducts, organic sulfides, compounds containing chlorine and sulfur,
metal salts
of organic acids.
Illustrative oxidation and thermal stability improvers include sterically
hindered
phenols (BHT), aromatic amines, dithiophosphates, phosphites, sulfides and
metal
salts of dithio acids.
Illustrative corrosion inhibitors include organic acids, organic amines,
organic
phosphates, organic alcohols, metal sulfonates and organic phosphites.
Viscosity index is the measure of the change in viscosity with temperature,
and
a high number suggests that the change in viscosity with temperature is
minimal. In
view of the high viscosity index of the lube oil compositions of the present
invention, it
is possible to formulate a lube oil composition which is free of viscosity
index improver.
However, there may be applications where it is desirable to further improve
viscosity
index. Illustrative viscosity index improvers include polyisobutylene,
polymethacrylate
and polyalkylstyrenes.
Illustrative pour point and or floc point depressants include polymethacrylate
ethylene - vinyl acetate copolymers, succinamic acid - olefin copolymers,
ethylene -
alpha olefin copolymers and Friedel-Crafts condensation products of wax with
naptha-
lene or phenols.
Illustrative detergents include sulfonates, long-chain alkyl substituted
aromatic
sulfonic acids, phosphonates, thiophosphonates, phenolates, metal salts of
alkyl phe-
nols, alkyl sulfides, alkylphenol - aldehyde condensation products, metal
salts of sub-
stituted salicylates, N-substituted oligomers or polymers from the reaction
products of
unsaturated anhydrides and amines and co-polymers which incorporate polyester
link-
ages such as vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride co-polymers.
Illustrative anti-foaming agents are silicone polymers.
Illustrative viscosity adjusters include polyisobutylene, polymethacrylates,
polyalkylstyrenes, naphthenic oils, alkylbenzene oils, paraffinic oils,
polyesters, polyvi-
nylchloride and polyphosphates.
In the present invention, the additive(s) should be at least partially
(greater than
about 50% by weight) miscible in the base stock. Generally, this means that
the addi-
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tives used will be oil soluble at least to some extent, and preferably to a
substantial ex-
tent.
The lube oil composition should thus preferably be a substantially uniform mix-
ture, with substantially no settling or phase separation of components.
The lubrication oil composition preferably comprises the additives in an
amount
of less than 50 wt%, based on the total weight of the lubrication oil
composition. In
various embodiments, the lubrication oil can comprise the additives in an
amount of
about 25 wt% or less, or about 10 wt% or less, or about 5 wt% or less, based
on the
total weight of the lubrication oil composition.
EXAMPLES
All parts, percentages, etc., are by weight unless otherwise indicated.
The number-average molecular weights (Mn) of polyether glycol and polyether
glycol ester were determined either by analyzing end-groups using NMR
spectroscopic
methods or by titration of hydroxyl groups.
ASTM method D445-83 and ASTM method D792-91 were used to determine
the kinematic viscosity and density of the polymer, respectively.
Additional ASTM methods were used as listed in the Tables below.
The materials of the present invention were tested with and without a lube oil
additive package. The package used during the testing comprised the components
listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1
Additive Description Function Available From
Triphenyl phos-
phorothionate, Anti- Ciba S ecialt
IRGALUBEO typically contain- p y
TPPT ing 9% phospho- wear/extreme Chemicals,
rus and 9.4% sul- pressure Tarrytown, NY
fu r
Methylene Ashless anti- RT Vanderbilt
VANLUBE oxidant and Com an Inc
7723 bis(dibutyldithioca extreme pres- p y
rbamate) sure Norwalk, CT
22
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RT Vanderbilt
VANLUBEO Tolutriazole antioxidant Company Inc
887 E
Norwalk, CT
PANA Phenyl a- antioxidant Akrochem, Ak-
naphthalmine ron, OH
VANLUBEO Polymerized 1,2- R.T. Vanderbilt
RD dihydro-2,2,4- antioxidant Co., Inc., Nor-
trimethylquinoline walk, CT
IRGANOXO Ciba Specialty
1135 Hindered phenol antioxidant Chemicals,
Tarrytown, NY
IRGALUBEO Mixture of amine EP/AW & cor- Ciba Specialty
349 phosphates rosion inhibi- Chemicals,
tor Tarrytown, NY
RT Vanderbilt
VANLUBEO Calcium sulfonate Rust inhibitor Company Inc
8912E
Norwalk, CT
2,5 dimercapto- Corrosion in- R.T. Vanderbilt
CUVANO 1,3,4-thiadiazole hibitor & Co., Inc.,
826 derivative metal deacti- Norwalk, CT
vator
Preparation of PO3G Homopolymer - PO3G1
A 22-L, 4-necked, round-bottomed flask, equipped with a nitrogen inlet, and a
distillation head was charged with 11877 g of 1,3-propanediol. The liquid was
sparged
with nitrogen at a rate of 10 L/min. and mechanical stirring (using a stirring
magnet
driven by a magnetic stirrer below the flask) was done for about 15 min. After
15 min.,
108 g of sulfuric acid was slowly added drop-wise from a separatory funnel
through
one of the ports over a period of at least 5 minutes. When this was finished,
15 g of
1,3-propanediol (PDO) was added to the separatory funnel and swirled to remove
any
residual sulfuric acid. This was added to the flask. The mixture was stirred
and
sparged as above and heated to 160 C. The water of reaction was removed by
distil-
lation and was collected continuously during the polymerization reaction. The
reaction
was continued for 25 hours, after which it was allowed to cool (while stirring
and
sparging were maintained) to 45 C.
The crude material was hydrolyzed as follows. The crude polymer was added
to a 22-L, 5-necked, round-bottom flask, (equipped with a condenser and a
mechanical
mixer) along with an equal volume of distilled water. This mixture was stirred
me-
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chanically, sparged with nitrogen at a rate of about 150 mL/min. and heated to
100 C.
It was allowed to reflux for 4 hours after which the heat was turned off and
the mixture
allowed to cool to 45 C. The stirring was discontinued and the sparging
reduced to a
minimum. Phase separation occurred during cooling. The aqueous phase water was
removed and discarded. A volume of distilled water equal to the initial amount
was
added to the wet polymer remaining in the flask. Mixing, sparging and heating
to
100 C was done again for 1 hour after which the heat was turned off and the
material
allowed to cool as before. The aqueous phase was removed and discarded.
The residual sulphuric acid was determined by titration and neutralized with
an
excess of calcium hydroxide. The polymer was dried under reduced pressure at
90 C
for 3 hours and then filtered through a Whatman filter paper precoated with a
CEL-
PURE C-65 filter aid. The resulting PO3G had a number average molecular weight
of
940.
Preparation of Poly(trimethylene-Ethylene Ether) Glycol Copolymer - P03G2
The above procedure described was repeated except for variation in the
amounts of 1,3-propanediol (8811.2 g), 1,2-ethanediol (3080.8 g) and sulfuric
acid (108
g) to obtain a poly(trimethylene-ethylene ether) glycol copolymer having a
number av-
erage molecular weight (Mn) of 890.
Preparation of a 2-Ethylhexanoate PO3G Ester
1,3-propanediol (2.4 kg, 31.5 moles) was charged into a 5 L flask fitted with
a
stirrer, a condenser and an inlet for nitrogen. The liquid in the flask was
flushed with
dry nitrogen for 30 minutes at room temperature and then heated to 170 C while
being
stirred at 120 rpm. When the temperature reached 170 C, 12.6 g (0.5 wt%) of
concen-
trated sulfuric acid was added. The reaction was allowed to proceed at 170 C
for 3
hours, and then the temperature was raised to 180 C and held at 180 C for 135
min-
utes. A total of 435 mL of distillate was collected. The reaction mixture was
cooled,
and then 2.24 kg (14.6 moles) of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (99%) was added. The
reaction
temperature was then raised to 160 C under nitrogen flow with continuous
agitation at
180 rpm and maintained at that temperature for 6 hours. During this period an
addi-
tional 305 mL of distillate water was collected. Heating and agitation were
stopped and
the reaction mixture was allowed to settle. The product was decanted from
about 5 g
of a lower, immiscible by-product phase. NMR analysis of the by-product phase
con-
firmed that no carboxylic acid esters were present.
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2.0 kg of the polytrimethylene ether glycol ester product was mixed with 0.5
kg
of water, and then the resulting mixture was heated at 95 C for 6 hours. The
aqueous
phase was separated from the polymer phase, and then the polymer phase was
washed twice with 2.0 kg of water. The resulting product was heated at 120 C
at 200
mTorr to remove volatiles (255 g). The resulting PO3G ester product has the
following
properties:
Number average molecular weight (Mn) = 500
Viscosity at 40 C and 100 C = 24 and 5.5 cSt, respectively
Viscosity Index (VI) = 180
The resulting PO3G ester was analyzed using proton NMR. No peaks associ-
ated with sulfate esters and unreacted 2-ethylhexanoic acid were found. There
was no
sulfur detected in the polymer when analyzed using WDXRF spectroscopy method.
Example 1
PO3G1 (25 wt% based on the weight of the base fluid stock) and the PO3G es-
ter (75 wt% based on the weight of the base fluid stock) prepared above were
mixed
and a lube composition was prepared as follows (wt% below based on the total
com-
position weight):
Blend of base fluids 97.3%
IRGALUBEO TPPT 0.40%
VANLUBEO 7723 0.30%
VANLUBEO 887E 0.20%
PANA 0.40%
VANLUBEO RD 0.80%
IRGALUBEO 349 0.40%
CUVANO 826 0.10%
Table 2 lists the lube properties of the blend fluid.
Table 2
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Property ASTM Method Example 2
Viscosity @ 40 C, cSt D445 38.5
Viscosity Index 182
Pour point, C D97 0
Flash Point, C D-92 240
Evaporation D-972 0.42%
Foaming sequence 1,2,3 D-892 None
Copper corrosion D-130 1 b
Four Ball Wear Scar, mm D-4172 0.69
Load Wear Index D-2783 24.5
Last nonseizure load,(scar, mm) D-2783 40 kg (.31)
Last seizure load (scar, mm) 160 kg (2.59)
Weld Load, kg 200
Falex Pin & V block Max load, lbs D3233 3400
Example 2
PO3G1 (75 wt% based on the weight of the base fluid stock) and the PO3G es-
ter (25 wt% based on the weight of the base fluid stock) prepared above were
mixed
and a lube oil composition was prepared by adding the following additives (wt%
below
based on the total composition weight):
Blend of base fluids 97.6%
TPPT 0.50%
PANA 0.50%
VANLUBEO RD 1.00%
IRGALUBEO 349 0.30%
CUVANO 826 0.10%
Example 3
P03G2 (75 wt% based on the weight of the base fluid stock) and the PO3G es-
ter (25 wt% based on the weight of the base fluid stock) prepared above were
mixed
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WO 2009/029477 PCT/US2008/073832
and a lube oil composition was prepared by adding the following additives (wt%
based
on total composition weight).
Blend of base fluid 97.60%
IRGALUBEO TPPT 0.50%
PANA 0.50%
VANLUBEO RD 1.00%
IRGALUBEO 349 0.30%
CUVANO 826 0.10%
Table 3 lists the lube properties of the blend fluid.
Example 4
P03G2 (25 wt% based on the weight of the base fluid stock) and the PO3G es-
ter (75 wt% based on the weight of the base fluid stock) prepared above were
mixed
and a lube oil composition was prepared by adding the following additives (wt%
based
on total composition weight).
Blend of base fluid 97.60%
IRGALUBEO TPPT 0.50%
PANA 0.50%
VANLUBEO RD 1.00%
IRGALUBEO 349 0.30%
CUVANO 826 0.10%
Table 3 lists the lube properties of the blend fluid.
TABLE 3
Property Test Example 3 Example 4
Method
Four ball wear, mm ASTM 0.40 0.63
D-4172
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Load wear Index 33.6 27.2
Last nonseizure load (scar) ASTM 63kg (0.36mm) 50 kg (0.33mm)
Last seizure load (scar) D-2783 160 kg (2.69mm) 160 kg (2.68mm)
Weld load 200kg 200 kg
Falex Pin & V block test ASTM 4500 4500
Max Load, lbs D-3233
Example 5
A lube oil composition was prepared by adding the following additive package
to a poly(trimethylene-ethylene ether) glycol (Mn = 1100, P03G3) to form an
initial
composition.
P03G3 97.85%
Defoamer DC 200 cSt 0.0025%
VANLUBEO 7723 0.3%
VANLUBEO 887E 0.4%
IRGANOXO 1135 0.2%
IRGALUBEO TPPT 0.5%
IRGALUBEO 349 0.4%
VANLUBEO RD 0.25%
CUVANO 826 0.1%
This lube oil composition (90 wt% based on total weight) was blended with the
2-Ethylhexanoate PO3G Ester (10 wt% based on total weight) prepared as
described
above.
Table 4 lists the lube properties of the finished product which is suitable,
for
example, as a rotating machinery lubricant (gears, bearings) and as a
hydraulic fluid.
Table 4
Property ASTM Method
Viscosity @ 40 C, cSt 236
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Viscosity Index 206
Pour point, C D97 -45
Flash Point, C D-92 288
Four Ball Wear Scar, mm D-4172 0.37
Coefficient of friction D-4172 0.033
Load Wear Index D-2783 61.5
Last nonseizure load,(scar, mm) D-2783 160 kg (.52)
Weld Load, kg 200
Falex Pin & V block Max load, lbs D3233 3000
Oxidation Test Data D4636
Viscosity change, % 24 hrs @ 190 C 1.49
Acid number change (mg/KOH/g) 0.07
% Evaporation loss, 0.65
Sediment weight, mg 4.4
Copper corrosion D-4646 Dull-ib
29
