Novel Polymers and Methods of Controlling Viscosity

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel polymer with pendant groups. The invention further provides for a lubricating composition containing said polymer. The invention further provides a method and use of controlling viscosity index by supplying to an oil of lubricating viscosity the polymer with pendant groups.

1 . A polymer of Formula (I), wherein the polymer has pendant groups as represented within ( ) w  of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         BB is a polymer backbone wherein the polymer comprises at least one of (a) a polymer derived from monomers comprising: (i) a vinyl aromatic monomer and (ii) a carboxylic monomer or derivatives thereof; (b) a copolymer derived from (i) an α-olefin and (ii) a carboxylic monomer or derivatives thereof; or (c) mixtures thereof; 
         X is a functional group which either (i) contains at least carbon and at least one oxygen or nitrogen atom or (ii) is an alkylene group with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, connecting the polymer backbone and a branched hydrocarbyl group contained within ( ) y ; 
         w is the number of pendant groups attached to the polymer backbone ranging from 1 to 2000; 
         y is 0, 1, 2 or 3, provided that in at least 1 mol % of the pendant groups, y is not zero; and with the proviso that when y is 0, X is bonded to a terminal group in a manner sufficient to satisfy the valence of X, wherein the terminal group is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, a metal or ammonium cation, and mixtures thereof; 
         p is an integer in the range of 1 to 15; 
         R′ and R″ are independently linear or branched hydrocarbyl groups, and the combined total number of carbon atoms present in R′ and R″ is at least 12. 
       
     
     
         2 . The polymer of  claim 1  wherein X is a functional group containing a carbon and at least one oxygen or nitrogen atom. 
     
     
         3 . The polymer of  claim 1 , having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 2,000,000. 
     
     
         4 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the functional group X is an ester, an amide or an imide. 
     
     
         5 . The polymer of  claim 1  having 20% to 100% branched hydrocarbyl groups R′ and R″, wherein the polymer is other than a poly(meth)acrylate. 
     
     
         6 . The polymer of  claim 1  having the total combined number of carbon atoms on R′ and R″ in the range of 12 to 60. 
     
     
         7 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer with pendant groups is derived from monomers comprising: (i) a vinyl aromatic monomer; and (ii) a carboxylic monomer, comprising an esterified styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, wherein the maleic anhydride units of the copolymer are subsequently esterified with an alcohol with alkyl branched pendant groups. 
     
     
         8 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer further comprises a nitrogen containing group. 
     
     
         9 . The polymer of  claim 8 , wherein the nitrogen containing group is derived from a nitrogen containing compound capable of reacting with a functionalised polymer backbone. 
     
     
         10 . The polymer of  claim 9 , wherein the nitrogen containing compound is further attached to the polymer through an amide functionality. 
     
     
         11 . The polymer of  claim 10 , wherein the nitrogen containing compound comprises an alkylamine, a hydroxy-substituted hydrocarbyl amine, a heterocyclic monoamine, an alkylenepolyamine, an aromatic amine or polyamine, a heterocyclic polyamine or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The polymer of  claim 10 , wherein the nitrogen containing compound is derived from a nitrogen containing monomer. 
     
     
         13 . A lubricating composition comprising an oil of lubricating viscosity and the polymer of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method of controlling the viscosity index of a lubricant, the method comprising supplying to the lubricant the polymer of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lubricant is suitable for at least one of gear oils, axle oils, drive shaft oils, traction oils, manual transmission oils or automatic transmission oils. 
     
     
         16 . A polymer of Formula (I), wherein the polymer has pendant groups as represented within ( ) w  of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         BB is a polymer backbone wherein the polymer comprises at least one of (a) a polymer derived from monomers comprising: (i) a vinyl aromatic monomer; and (ii) a carboxylic monomer or derivatives thereof; (b) a copolymer derived from (i) an α-olefin and (ii) a carboxylic monomer or derivatives thereof; or (c) mixtures thereof; 
         X is a functional group which contains at least carbon and at least one oxygen or nitrogen atom, connecting the polymer backbone and a branched hydrocarbyl group contained within ( ) y ; 
         w is the number of pendant groups attached to the polymer backbone in the range of 1 to 2000; 
         y is 0, 1, 2 or 3, provided that in at least 1 mol % of the pendant groups, y is not zero; and with the proviso that when y is 0, X is bonded to a terminal group in a manner sufficient to satisfy the valence of X, wherein the terminal group is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, a metal or ammonium cation, and mixtures thereof; 
         p is an integer in the range of 1 to 15; 
         R′ and R″ are independently linear or branched hydrocarbyl groups, and the combined total number of carbon atoms present in R′ and R″ is at least 12. 
       
     
     
         17 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer contains 20% to 100% branched hydrocarbyl groups represented by a group within ( ) y . 
     
     
         18 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer contains 50% to 100% branched hydrocarbyl groups represented by a group within ( ) y . 
     
     
         19 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer contains 70% to 100% branched hydrocarbyl groups represented by a group within ( ) y . 
     
     
         20 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein p is an integer in the range of 1 to 8. 
     
     
         21 . The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein p is an integer in the range of 1 to 4.