Low molecular weight ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer as base lubricant oils
A lubricant composition comprises an ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer having a number average molecular weight of less than 10,000 g/mol as a base oil and at least one oil additive. The ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has at least one molecular fraction which elutes between 40° C. and 130° C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a molar comonomer content of at least 5 percent higher than that of a comparable random ethylene interpolymer fraction eluting between the same temperatures, wherein said comparable random ethylene interpolymer has the same comonomer(s) and has a melt index, density, and molar comonomer content (based on the whole polymer) within 10 percent of that of the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer.
1. A lubricant composition comprising a base oil and at least one oil additive, wherein the base oil comprises an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block interpolymer having a number average molecular weight of less than 10,000 g/mol and wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a comonomer content of a TREF fraction which elutes between 40° C. and 130° C. greater than or equal to the quantity (−0.2013)T+21.07 where T is the numerical value of the peak elution temperature of the TREF fraction being compared, measured in ° C.
2. A lubricant composition comprising a base oil and at least one oil additive, wherein the base oil comprises an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block interpolymer having:
(a) at least one molecular fraction which elutes between 40° C. and 130° C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a block index of at least 0.5 and up to about 1 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.3 or
(b) an average block index greater than zero and up to about 1.0 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.3.
3. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a number average molecular weight range from about 1,000 to about 5,000 g/mole.
4. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a molecular weight distribution range from about 1.5 to 4.0.
5. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a Brookfield viscosity of about 5 to 30 cSt at 100° C.
6. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a pour point of below about 0° C.
7. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises a C 3 -C 20 α-olefin.
8. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises a C 6 -C 18 α-olefin.
9. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises a C 10 -C 20 α-olefin.
10. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises decene.
11. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises dodecene.
12. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the base oil further comprises an oil selected from a group consisting of a base stock of API Groups I, II, III, IV, V and combinations thereof.
13. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the base oil further comprises is a natural oil, a synthetic oil or a combination thereof.
14. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the additive is a viscosity index improver, a detergent, a dispersant, a friction modifier, a pour point depressant, a demulsifier, an anti-foam, a corrosion inhibitor, an anti-wear agent, an antioxidant, a rust inhibitor, a thickener, or a combination thereof.
15. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the additive is a viscosity index improver.
16. The lubricant composition of claim 15 , wherein the viscosity index improver is a higher molecular weight ethylene/α-olefin block copolymer.
17. The lubricant composition of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is a motor oil, a transmission fluid, a gear oil, a power steering fluid, a shock absorber fluid, a brake fluid, a hydraulic fluid or a grease.
18. The lubricant composition of claim 17 wherein the lubricant composition is a motor oil.
19. The lubricant composition of claim 18 , wherein the motor oil further comprises a viscosity index improver, a pour point depressant, a detergent, a dispersant, an anti-wear, an antioxidant, a friction modifier, a rust inhibitor or a combination thereof.
20. The lubricant composition of claim 19 , wherein the lubricant composition is a transmission fluid.
21. The lubricant composition of claim 20 , wherein the transmission fluid further comprises a viscosity index improver, a friction modifier, a detergent, a dispersant, an antioxidant, an anti-wear agent, an extreme pressure agent, a pour point depressant, an anti-foam, a corrosion inhibitor or a combination thereof.
22. The lubricant composition of claim 17 , wherein the lubricant composition is a gear oil.
23. The lubricant composition of claim 22 , wherein the gear oil further comprises a viscosity index improver, an anti-wear, an extreme pressure agent, a rust inhibitor or a combination thereof.
24. The lubricant composition of claim 17 , wherein the lubricant composition is a grease.
25. The lubricant composition of claim 24 , wherein the grease further comprises a viscosity index improver, a thickener, a complexing agent, an antioxidant, an anti-wear agent, an extreme pressure agent, an anti-foam, a corrosion inhibitor or a mixture thereof.
26. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has at least one molecular fraction which elutes between 40° and 130° C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a block index of at least 0.5 and up to about 1 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.3.
27. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has an average block index greater than zero and up to about 1.0 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.3.
28. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a number average molecular weight range from about 1,000 to about 5,000 g/mole.
29. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a molecular weight distribution range from about 1.5 to 4.0.
30. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a Brookfield viscosity of about 5 to 30 cSt at 100° C.
31. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a pour point of below about 0° C.
32. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises a C 3 -C 20 α-olefin.
33. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the α-olefin interpolymer comprises a C 6 -C 18 α-olefin.
34. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises a C 10 -C 20 α-olefin.
35. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises decene.
36. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer comprises dodecene.
37. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the base oil further comprises an oil selected from a group consisting of a base stock of API Groups I, II, III, IV, V and combinations thereof.
38. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the base oil further comprises is a natural oil, a synthetic oil or a combination thereof.
39. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the additive is a viscosity index improver, a detergent, a dispersant, a friction modifier, a pour point depressant, a demulsifier, an anti-foam, a corrosion inhibitor, an anti-wear agent, an antioxidant, a rust inhibitor, a thickener, or a combination thereof.
40. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the additive is a viscosity index improver.
41. The lubricant composition of claim 40 , wherein the viscosity index improver is a higher molecular weight ethylene/α-olefin block copolymer.
42. The lubricant composition of claim 2 , wherein the lubricant composition is a motor oil, a transmission fluid, a gear oil, a power steering fluid, a shock absorber fluid, a brake fluid, a hydraulic fluid or a grease.
43. The lubricant composition of claim 42 , wherein the lubricant composition is a motor oil.
44. The lubricant composition of claim 43 wherein, the motor oil further comprises a viscosity index improver, a pour point depressant, a detergent, a dispersant, an anti-wear, a friction modifier, a rust inhibitor or a combination thereof.
45. The lubricant composition of claim 42 , wherein the lubricant composition is a transmission fluid.
46. The lubricant composition of claim 45 , wherein the transmission fluid further comprises a viscosity index improver, a friction modifier, a detergent, a dispersant, an anti-oxidant, an anti-wear agent, an extreme pressure agent, a pour point depressant, an anti-foam, a corrosion inhibitor or a combination thereof.
47. The lubricant composition of claim 42 , wherein the lubricant composition is a gear oil.
48. The lubricant composition of claim 47 , wherein the gear oil further comprises a viscosity index improver, an anti-wear, an extreme pressure agent, a rust inhibitor or a combination thereof.
49. The lubricant composition of claim 42 , wherein the lubricant composition is a grease.
50. The lubricant composition of claim 49 , wherein the grease further comprises a viscosity index improver, a thickener, a complexing agent, an antioxidant, an anti-wear agent, an extreme pressure agent, an anti-foam, a corrosion inhibitor or a mixture thereof.