Ashless Controlled Release Gels

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control release gel for delivery of additives free of producing ash to substantially free of producing ash into a lubricant. Further, the invention provides for a method of controlled release of additive(s) into the lubricant.

1 . A lubricant additive gel comprising:
 1) a dispersant;   2) an acid selected from the group consisting of an acid formed from a polymer containing acidic groups in the backbone, a polyacidic compound, surfactants with acidic groups in the backbone, emulsifiers with acidic groups in the backbone and mixtures thereof, and   3) optionally lubricant additives;   wherein the gel is substantially free of ash producing components and resulting in a lubricant additive gel that control releases the components into a lubricant.   
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant additive gel does not contain ash producing components. 
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio of the ashless dispersant to the acid formed from the polymerization is about 0.1 to about 100 and wherein a tan delta value is ≧1. 
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the dispersant is selected from the group consisting of mannich dispersants, polymeric dispersants, carboxylic dispersants, amine dispersants, and combinations thereof and wherein the dispersant is substantially free of forming ash to completely free of forming ash. 
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the dispersant is a polyisobutenyl succinimide dispersant. 
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1  where the acid is selected from the group consisting of polymers derived from the polymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride, polymers derived from acrylates, polymers derived from acrylic acid, polymers derived from acrylic acid esters, polymers derived from methacrylic acid, polymers derived from methacrylic acid esters, polymers derived from high molecular weight (CN wherein n≦12) esters and acids, esterified maleic anhydride styrene copolymers, polymers derived from esterified ethylene diene monomer copolymers, a polyacidic compound, surfactants with acidic groups in the backbone, emulsifiers with acidic groups in the backbone and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of an acid formed from the polymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride; a copolymer that is partially esterified with one or more C 6  to C 32  alcohol or mixture of alcohols, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the acid has a residual acid groups with a total acid number ≧1. 
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the additive gel further contains at least one desired additive selected from the group consisting of viscosity modifer(s), friction modifier(s), detergent(s), cloud point depressant(s), pour point depressant(s), demulsifier(s), flow improver(s), anti static agent(s), dispersant(s), antioxidant(s), antifoam(s), corrosion/rust inhibitor(s), extreme pressure/antiwear agent(s), seal swell agent(s), lubricity acid(s), antimisting agent(s), and mixtures thereof, and wherein the additive gel is substantially free of ash producing components, and wherein at least one of the desired additive(s) is control released over time into a lubricant when the gel is in contact with the lubricant. 
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein the additive gel does not contain any ash producing components. 
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the additive gel does not contain any ash producing detergents, ash producing antioxidants, ash producing dispersants or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the dispersant is present in a range from about 0.02 wt % to about 99.5 wt %, the acid is present in a range from about 0.02 wt % to about 99.5 wt % and the additional additive is present in a range from about 0 wt % to about 95 wt % of the total weight of the gel. 
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein other components can be added to the gel comprising base stock oils, inert carriers, dyes, bacteriostatic agents, solid particulate additives or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A process for lubricating mechanical devices comprising a) supplying one or more lubricant gels to a lubricant and b) contacting the lubricant with an additive gel wherein the lubricant gel comprises 1) a dispersant; 2) an acid selected from the group consisting of an acid formed from a polymer containing acidic groups in the backbone, a polyacidic compound, surfactants with acidic groups in the backbone, emulsifiers with acidic groups in the backbone and mixtures thereof, and 3) optionally lubricant additives resulting in a controlled release of additives into a lubricant substantially free of the addition of ash into the lubricant. 
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the use of the additive gel is completely free of the production of ash. 
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the release rate of the additive components from the gel is determined by the gel formulation and wherein the gel formulation comprises one or more additives that selectively dissolve completely or partially into the lubricant over time. 
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the controlled release gel is provided for lubricant conditioning devices selected from the group consisting of internal combustion engines, mobile combustion engines, stationary engines, natural gas engines, marine diesel engines, generators, on high-way engines, off-highway engines, hydraulic systems, automatic transmissions, gear boxes, gears, manual transmissions, differentials, metalworking fluids, axles, pumps, suspension systems, industrial lubricated systems and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       18 . An oil filter for an engine comprising a housing, a filter for removing particulate matter from the oil passing through the filter, an oil and a lubricant additive gel comprising 1) an ashless dispersant; 2) an acid selected from the group consisting of an acid formed from a polymer containing acidic groups in the backbone, a polyacidic compound, surfactants with acidic groups in the backbone, emulsifiers with acidic groups in the backbone and mixtures thereof, and 3) optionally lubricant additives and resulting in a lubricant additive gel that control releases the components into the lubricant of the engine without the addition of ash. 
   
   
       19 . A lubricated system comprising a lubricant, an ashless lubricant additive gel comprising 1) an ashless dispersant; 2) an acid selected from the group consisting of an acid formed from a polymer containing acidic groups in the backbone, a polyacidic compound, surfactants with acidic groups in the backbone, emulsifiers with acidic groups in the backbone and mixtures thereof, and 3) optionally lubricant additives resulting in a lubricant additive gel substantially free of ash producing components that control releases a desirable additive into the lubricant.