Patent GB-642037-A (GB)
Title: Synthetic lubricant
IPC: C08G65/34
Filed: 1947-08-25
Abstract: Copolymers are produced by copolymerizing at a temperature between 150 DEG  and 300 DEG  C. and in the presence of a dehydration catalyst an alkylene glycol with a trimethylene glycol.  Specified alkylene glycols are ethylene, propylene and butylene glycols; diethylene, triethylene, tetraethylene, pentaethylene and corresponding propylene and butylene glycols; ethylene propylene, diethylene propylene and diethylene dipropylene glycols.  Suitable trimethylene glycols are methyl propane diols containing one to six methyl groups; but other alkyl and cycloaliphatic radicals, e.g. ethyl, propyl, butyl, amyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclohexyl, dimethylcyclohexyl and ethylcyclohexyl, may replace some or all of the methyl radicals. The trimethylene glycol may contain halogen or sulphur atoms or carboxyl, carbonyl or additional hydroxyl groups and substituents may be unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals or may contain oxygen, sulphur, selenium, tellurium, phosphorus or nitrogen.  Dehydration catalysts specified are iodine, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrogen chloride, bromide and iodide, p-toluene sulphonic acid, benzene sulphonic acid, sodium bisulphate, aluminium sulphate and potassium acid phosphate. Polymerization may be carried out in liquid, solution, emulsion or gaseous phases.  Methane, ethane, propane, butane, dihydronaphthalenes, cycloheptane, 2-methylnonane, 2,6-dimethyloctane, 2,2,3 - trimethylpentane, 2 - methyl - 3 - ethylpentane, 2-methyloctane, 2,4-dimethylheptane, 4-ethylheptane, dihexyl, 2,4,5,7-tetramethyloctane and water may be present.  After removal of catalyst and dehydration, e.g. by distillation under reduced pressure, the product may be decolourized by percolation in solution in benzene, toluene or xylene, through fuller's earth and subsequent hydrogenation. Simultaneously with or subsequent to polymerization the glycols may be subjected to partial or complete etherification or esterification.  If alcohols, e.g. n-octyl, n-decyl and n-dodecyl alcohols are used as diluents during polymerization, the corresponding ethers of the polymers are obtained.  The products are suitable as lubricants, hydraulic brake fluids, and as plasticizers for methacrylate polymers, e.g. polylauryl methacrylate, cellulose esters, e.g. nitrocellulose, cellulose ethers and phenolformaldehyde resins.  The copolymers are water-soluble or swell in water and are soluble in aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ethers and alcohols.  They may be stabilized against oxidation by addition of amines, e.g. phenyl-a -and -b -naphthylamines, n-butyl- and n,n1-dibutyl-p-phenylene diamines, a - and b -naphthylamines, a ,a 1-, b ,b 1 and a ,b -dinaphthylamines, or substituted phenols, e.g. 2,4-di-tert.-butyl-6-methylphenol, pentamethyl phenol and petroleum alkyl phenols.  Corrosion inhibitors and extreme pressure agents may also be added.ALSO:Copolymers produced by copolymerizing at a temperature between 150 DEG  and 300 DEG  C. and in the presence of a dehydration catalyst an alkylene glycol with trimethylene glycol are suitable as lubricants and grease bases.  Simultaneously with or subsequent to polymerization the glycols may be subjected to partial or complete etherification or esterification.  They may also be hydrogenated.  The copolymers may be stabilized against oxidation by addition of amines, e.g. phenyl-a - and -b -naphthylamines, N-butyl and N,N1-dibutyl-p-phenylene diamines, a - and b -naphthylamines, a ,a 1-, b ,b 1-and a ,b  - dinaphthylamines, or substituted phenols, e.g. 2,4-di-tert.-butyl-6-methylphenol, pentamethyl phenol and petroleum alkyl phenols.  Corrosion inhibitors and extreme pressure agents may also be added.