Dodecylmethacrylate-Behenyl Acrylate Copolymers as Potential Multifunctional Additive for Lubricating Oil

Abstract

The application of long chain polymeric additives based on acrylate and methacry late has attracted considerable interest due to their high oil solubility, storage stability and enhanced additive performances compared to other conventional additives. Keeping this view in mind and in continuation of our explorative studies on lube oil additives, copolymer of two long chain acrylate, comprising C12 and C22 carbon chains in the polymer back bone and the corresponding homopolymers have been synthesized using BZP (benzoyl peroxide) as radical initiator in toluene solvent. Characterization of the prepared polymers has been performed by spectral (NMR, IR), TGA and SEC-GPC analysis. Performance evaluation of the copolymers as well as that for the corresponding homopolymers, as pour point depressant (PPD), and viscosity modifier (VM) / viscosity index improver (VII) in different base oils (mineral), have been performed by standard ASTM methods and compared. The copolymers showed excellent PPD performance along with very good VM properties.