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Post‐oligomerization of α‐olefin oligomers: A route to single‐component and multicomponent synthetic lubricating oils
Author(s) -
Kissin Yury V.,
Schwab Frederick C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.29030
Subject(s) - oligomer , catalysis , polymer chemistry , dimer , cationic polymerization , olefin fiber , chemistry , 1 hexene , materials science , polystyrene , organic chemistry , polymer , ethylene
This article describes a synthetic route to single‐component and multicomponent base stocks for synthetic lubricated oils. The synthesis was carried out in two stages. First, oligomers of α‐olefins (1‐hexene, 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene, and 1‐decene) were prepared via reactions catalyzed by metallocene catalysts. The distribution of the oligomers with respect to their oligomerization number could be controlled by the reaction temperature. The oligomer mixtures were then fractionated, and the lightest components, dimers and trimers, were separated. Finally, the latter materials, branched α‐olefins containing vinylidene double bonds, were further oligomerized with cationic catalysts. One such material prepared in the two‐stage process, the dimer of the 1‐decene dimer (C 40 product), has a kinematic viscosity of 6.4 cs at 100°C and a viscosity index of 147. It represents the first example of a single‐component base stock for synthetic lubricating oils. The post‐oligomerization procedure was performed on unfractionated oligomer mixtures as well, leading to an improved distribution of the final materials with respect to the carbon atom number. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009