Polyalphaolefin & Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil lubricant blends

Abstract

Blended lubricant base oils and blended finished lubricants comprising ≧70 weight percent Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oils comprising ≧6 weight % molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality and less than 0.05 weight % molecules with aromatic functionality; at least one polyalphaolefin lubricant base oil with a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. greater than about 30 cSt and less than 150 cSt are provided. These blended lubricant base oils and blended finished lubricants exhibit superior friction and wear properties, in addition to other highly desired properties. Also provided are processes for making these blended lubricant base oils and blended finished lubricants.

1 . A blended lubricant base oil comprising: 
 a. ≧70 weight % Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprising ≧6 weight % molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality and less than 0.05 weight % molecules with aromatic functionality; and    b. at least one polyalphaolefin lubricant base oil with a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. greater than about 30 cSt and less than 150 cSt.    
   
   
       2 . The blended lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprises a weight percent of molecules with cycloparaffinic functionality of greater than 10, and a ratio of weight percent of molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality to weight percent of molecules with multicycloparaffinic functionality greater than 15.  
   
   
       3 . The blended lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprises a weight percent of molecules with aromatic functionality less than 0.01.  
   
   
       4 . The blended lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprises ≧10 weight % of molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality.  
   
   
       5 . The blended lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the difference in the kinematic viscosities at 100° C. of the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil and the polyalphaolefin lubricant base oil is greater than 40 cSt.  
   
   
       6 . The blended lubricant base oil of  claim 5 , wherein the difference in the kinematic viscosities at 100° C. of the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil and the polyalphaolefin lubricant base oil is greater than 70 cSt.  
   
   
       7 . A blended finished lubricant comprising: 
 a. ≧70 weight % Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprising ≧6 weight % molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality and less than 0.05 weight % molecules with aromatic functionality;    b. at least one polyalphaolefin lubricant base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. greater than about 30 cSt and less than 150 cSt; and    c. an effective amount of at least one anti-wear additive.    
   
   
       8 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprises a weight percent of molecules with aromatic functionality of less than 0.05, a weight percent of molecules with cycloparaffinic functionality of greater than 10, and a ratio of weight percent of molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality to weight percent of molecules with multicycloparaffinic functionality greater than 15.  
   
   
       9 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprises a weight percent of molecules with aromatic functionality less than 0.01.  
   
   
       10 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprises ≧8 weight % molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality.  
   
   
       11 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 10 , wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil comprises ≧10 weight % molecules with monocycloparaffinic functionality.  
   
   
       12 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the effective amount of at least one anti-wear additive is between 0.001 and 5 weight %.  
   
   
       13 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the blended finished lubricant has a kinematic viscosity between about 2.0 and 20 cSt at 100° C.  
   
   
       14 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the blended finished lubricant has a Noack volatility of less than 12 weight %.  
   
   
       15 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the blended finished lubricant has an Oxidator B with L-4 Catalyst test result of greater than 22 hours.  
   
   
       16 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the blended finished lubricant has a TEOST-MHT total deposit weight of less than or equal to about 45 milligrams.  
   
   
       17 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the blended finished lubricant has a viscosity index greater than 165.  
   
   
       18 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the blended finished lubricant exhibits an HFRR Wear Volume Below the Plane of less than or equal to 300,000 cubic microns.  
   
   
       19 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one anti-wear additive is selected from the group consisting of metal phosphates, metal dithiophosphates, metal dialkyldithiophosphates, metal thiocarbamates, metal dithiocarbamates, metal dialkyldithiocarbamates, ethoxylated amine dialkyldithiophosphates, ethoxylate amine dithiobenzoates, neutral organic phosphites, organo-molybdenum compounds, organo-sulfur compounds, sulfur compounds, chlorine compounds, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one additional lubricant additive selected from the group consisting of EP agents, detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, pour point depressants, viscosity index improvers, ester co-solvents, viscosity modifiers, friction modifiers, demulsifiers, antifoaming agents, corrosion inhibitors, rust inhibitors, seal swell agents, emulsifiers, wetting agents, lubricity improvers, metal deactivators, gelling agents, tackiness agents, bactericides, fluid-loss additives, colorants, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 20 , wherein the finished lubricant is a multigrade internal combustion engine crankcase oil, a transmission oil, a power train fluid, a turbine oil, a compressor oil, a hydraulic oil, or a grease.  
   
   
       22 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 21 , wherein the blended finished lubricant is a multigrade internal combustion engine crankcase oil meeting SAE J300, June 2001, specifications.  
   
   
       23 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 22 , wherein the internal combustion engine crankcase oil meets the specifications for an engine oil having a viscosity grade of 0W-20, 5W-XX, 10W-XX, or 15W-XX wherein XX is 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60.  
   
   
       24 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 22 , wherein the internal combustion engine crankcase oil meets the specifications for at least one ACEA 2002 European Oil Sequences for gasoline engines, light duty diesel engines, or heavy duty diesel engines.  
   
   
       25 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the effective amount of at least one anti-wear additive is less than the effective amount of anti-wear additive in a finished lubricant comprising Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil in the absence of a polyalphaolefin lubricant base oil.  
   
   
       26 . The blended finished lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the effective amount of at least one anti-wear additive is less than the effective amount of anti-wear additive in a finished lubricant comprising polyalphaolefin lubricant base oil in the absence of a Fischer-Tropsch derived lubricant base oil.  
   
   
       27 . A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a valve train, comprising: 
 a. lubricating the engine using the blended finished lubricant of  claim 7;  and    b. operating the engine using a fuel.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the engine is a compression ignition engine or a spark ignition engine and the fuel is a diesel fuel, a low sulfur diesel fuel, a gasoline fuel, an unleaded gasoline, or natural gas.  
   
   
       29 . A method for reducing wear in ferrous alloy equipment, comprising: 
 a. lubricating the equipment with the blended finished lubricant of  claim 7;  and    b. operating the equipment after the lubricating.