Novel application of thickeners to achieve favorable air release in lubricants

Abstract

Methods for achieving favorable air release properties, methods for blending a lubricant composition and lubricant compositions are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of obtaining at least one base stock and at least one thickener, blending the base stock(s) and the thickener wherein the treat rates of the base stock and thickener are chosen to achieve a favorable air release property using a relationship between the thickener, lubricant viscosity, and viscosity of at least one base stock.

1 . A lubricating oil, comprising
 a) at least one base stock;   b) at least one thickener;   c) wherein treat rates of the thickener and base stock are chosen to achieve a favorable air release property by using a relationship between the thickener, lubricant viscosity and viscosity of at least one base stock.   
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the relationship further comprises lubricant viscosity index. 
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the relationship is represented by algorithm:
   Air 1 min   =c−c   1   *A+c   2   *B+c   3   *A   2   −c   4   *B   2   +c   5   *AB      
     Wherein:
 Air 1 min  is the air content at 1 minute following aeration by ASTM D3427 
 
     c terms are constants that will vary based upon type of thickener, type of heavy neutral and co-blending stock, and finished blend viscosity range. 
     A=Heavy neutral treat rate 
     B=Thickener treat rate 
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the relationship is represented by algorithm:
     T   0.1%   =−c+c   1   *A+c   2   *B+c   3   *c−c   4   *D      
     Wherein:
 T 0.1%  is the time required to reach 0.1% air following aeration by ASTM D3427 
 
     C: Constants that will vary based upon type of VI improver, type of heavy neutral and co-blending stock, and finished blend viscosity range. 
     A=Viscosity index 
     B=Kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of lubricant 
     C=Amount of heavy neutral present in blend 
     D=Amount of viscosity improvers present in blend 
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a Group I 600 neutral base stock and a Group I 150 neutral base stock wherein at least 45 percent of the lubricant is the Group I 600 neutral base stock and less than 40 percent of the lubricant is the Group I 150 neutral base stock with a PIB additive to achieve a final viscosity of ISO viscosity grade of 220. 
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a Group I 600 neutral base stock and a Group I 150 neutral base stock wherein less than 65 percent of the lubricant is a Group I 600 neutral base stock and greater than 35 percent of the lubricant is a Group I 150 neutral base stock with a PMA additive to achieve a final viscosity of ISO viscosity grade of 68. 
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the relationship further comprises lubricant viscosity index, molecular weight of base stocks, and amount of additional base stocks, and any combination thereof. 
   
   
       8 . A method of improving air release in a lubricant comprising
 a) obtaining at least one base stock   b) obtaining at least one thickener   c) blending the base stock and the thickener to create the lubricant wherein treat rates of the base stock and thickener are chosen to achieve a favorable air release property using a relationship between the thickener, lubricant viscosity, and viscosity of at least one base stock;   d) lubricating with the lubricant.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the relationship further comprises lubricant viscosity index. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the relationship is represented by algorithm:
   Air 1 min   =c−c   1   *A+c   2   *B+c   3   *A   2   −c   4   *B   2   +c   5   *AB      
     Wherein:
 Air 1 min  is the air content at 1 minute following aeration by ASTM D3427 
 c terms are constants that will vary based upon type of thickener, type of heavy neutral and co-blending stock, and finished blend viscosity range. 
 A=Heavy neutral treat rate 
 B=Thickener treat rate 
 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the relationship is represented by algorithm:
     T   0.1%   =−c+c   1   *A+c   2   *B+c   3   *C−c   4   *D      
     Wherein:
 T 0.1%  is the time required to reach 0.1% air following aeration by ASTM D3427 
 C: Constants that will vary based upon type of VI improver, type of heavy neutral and co-blending stock, and finished blend viscosity range. 
 A=Viscosity index 
 B=Kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of lubricant 
 C=Amount of heavy neutral present in blend 
 D=Amount of viscosity improvers present in blend 
 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the lubricant further comprises a Group I 600 neutral base stock and a Group I 150 neutral base stock wherein at least 45 percent of the lubricant is the Group I 600 neutral base stock and less than 40 percent of the lubricant is the Group I 150 neutral base stock with a PIB additive to achieve a final viscosity of ISO viscosity grade of 220. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the lubricant further comprises a Group I 600 neutral base stock and a Group I 150 neutral base stock wherein less than 65 percent of the lubricant is a Group I 600 neutral base stock and greater than 35 percent of the lubricant is a Group I 150 neutral base stock with a PMA additive to achieve a final viscosity of ISO viscosity grade of 68. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the relationship further comprises lubricant viscosity index, molecular weight of base stocks, and amount of additional base stocks, and any combination thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 8  further wherein the relationship is quantified through the use of statistical analysis of air release for a defined system of the base stock, the thickener, and the lubricant viscosity. 
   
   
       16 . A method of formulating a lubricant comprising:
 a) obtaining at least one base stock;   b) obtaining at least one thickener;   c) blending the base stock and the thickener wherein treat rates of the base stock and thickener are chosen to achieve a favorable air release property using a relationship between the thickener, lubricant viscosity, and viscosity of at least one base stock.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the relationship further comprises lubricant viscosity index. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the relationship is represented by algorithm:
   Air 1 min   =c−c   1   *A+c   2   *B+c   3   *A   2   −c   4   *B   2   +c   5   *AB      
     Wherein:
 Air 1 min  is the air content at 1 minute following aeration by ASTM D3427 
 c terms are constants that will vary based upon type of thickener, type of heavy neutral and co-blending stock, and finished blend viscosity range. 
 A=Heavy Neutral Treat Rate 
 B=Thickener Treat Rate 
 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the relationship is represented by algorithm:
     T   0.1%   =−c+c   1   *A+c   2   *B+c   3   *C−c   4   *D      
     Wherein:
 T 0.1%  is the time required to reach 0.1% air following aeration by ASTM D3427 
 C: Constants that will vary based upon type of VI improver, type of heavy neutral and co-blending stock, and finished blend viscosity range. 
 A=Viscosity index 
 B=Kinematic viscosity at 40 C of Lubricant 
 C=Amount of heavy neutral present in blend 
 D=Amount of viscosity improvers present in blend 
 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the lubricant further comprises a Group I 600 neutral base stock and a Group I 150 neutral base stock wherein at least 45 percent of the lubricant is the Group I 600 neutral base stock and less than 40 percent of the lubricant is the Group I 150 neutral base stock with a PIB additive to achieve a final viscosity of ISO viscosity grade of 220. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the lubricant further comprises a Group I 600 neutral base stock and a Group I 150 neutral base stock wherein less than 65 percent of the lubricant is a Group I 600 neutral base stock and greater than 35 percent of the lubricant is a Group I 150 neutral base stock with a PMA additive to achieve a final viscosity of ISO viscosity grade of 68. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the relationship further comprises lubricant viscosity index, molecular weight of base stocks, and amount of additional base stocks, and any combination thereof. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16  further wherein the relationship is quantified through the use of statistical analysis of air release for a defined system of the base stock, the thickener, and the lubricant viscosity. 
   
   
       24 . The use of at least one high viscosity polymer to improve the air release properties of a lubricant composition. 
   
   
       25 . The use according to  claim 25 , wherein the high viscosity polymer is a polymethacryate or a polyisobutene. 
   
   
       26 . The use according to any one of  claims 24  or  25 , wherein the amount of high viscosity polymer suitable to achieve the improvement has been predetermined using the relationship represented by algorithm;
   Air 1 min   =c−c   1   *A+c   2   *B+c   3   *A   2   −c   4   *B   2   +c   5   *AB      
     Wherein:
 Air 1 min  is the air content at 1 minute following aeration by ASTM D3427 
 c terms are constants that will vary based upon type of thickener, type of heavy neutral and co-blending stock, and finished blend viscosity range. 
 A=Heavy neutral treat rate 
 B=Thickener treat rate 
 
   
   
       27 . The use according to any one of  claims 24  or  25 , wherein the amount of high viscosity polymer suitable to achieve the improvement has been predetermined using the relationship represented by algorithm;
     T   0.1%   =−c+c   1   *A+c   2   *B+c   3   *C−c   4   *D      
     Wherein:
 T 0.1%  is the time required to reach 0.1% air following aeration by ASTM D3427 
 C: Constants that will vary based upon type of VI improver, type of heavy neutral and co-blending stock, and finished blend viscosity range. 
 A=Viscosity index 
 B=Kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of lubricant 
 C=Amount of heavy neutral present in blend 
 D=Amount of viscosity improvers present in blend