Method for producing a two phase lubricant composition

Abstract

This invention provides a method for producing a lubricant composition that is comprised of a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase. The method involves mixing together high viscosity ester, ether or combination thereof, and polar diluent or solvent, to produce a solution. The solution is then added to a low viscosity Group IV base oil to produce a discontinuous phase dispersed throughout a continuous phase.

1 . A method for producing a lubricant composition having a discontinuous phase dispersed throughout a continuous phase, the method comprising the steps of:
 mixing together high viscosity ester, high viscosity ether or combination thereof, and polar solvent to produce a solution, wherein the high viscosity ester, high viscosity ether or combination of high viscosity ester and ether have a viscosity of at least 100 cSt at 100° C.; and   adding at least a portion of the solution to a low viscosity Group IV base oil having a viscosity of less than 100 cSt at 100° C. to produce the discontinuous phase dispersed throughout the continuous phase,   wherein the discontinuous phase is comprised of droplets of the high viscosity ester having a mean average diameter of from 0.1 microns to 20 microns.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent has a viscosity of from 1 cSt to 100 cSt at 100° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent has a viscosity of from 1 cSt to 80 cSt at 100° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the high viscosity ester, high viscosity ether and the low viscosity Group IV base oil are miscible in the solvent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is an aprotic polar composition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent has an aniline point of not greater than 45° C. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent has a flash point of at least 150° C. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a low viscosity ester composition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the low viscosity ester solvent is comprised of adipate ester. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high viscosity ester and high viscosity ether are more highly miscible in the solvent than the low viscosity Group IV base oil. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the high viscosity ester composition is comprised of an ester containing at least one ether linkage. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the high viscosity ester composition is comprised of an ester containing no ether linkages. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution contains from 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % solvent, based on total weight of the solution prior to mixing with the low viscosity Group IV base oil. 
     
     
         14 . The low viscosity Group IV base oil has, independently, a viscosity of from 1 cSt to 100 cSt at 100° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is added to the low viscosity Group IV base oil at a rate of at least 0.1 ml/min. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is added to the low viscosity Group IV base oil at a temperature of from 20° C. to 80° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is microfluidized following production of the dispersed phase.