Patent GB-767033-A (GB)
Title: Polymerisation process
Inventor: DOMINEY ALAN MICHAEL
IPC: C08F20/10
Filed: 1954-04-22
Abstract: Terpolymers are made by copolymerizing at a temperature between 140 DEG  and 170 DEG  F. in the presence of a polymerization catalyst a mixture comprising (a) an ester of an alpha, betaethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid with a saturated C1-C18 monohydric aliphatic alcohol, e.g. esters of acrylic, methacrylic, crotonic, isocrotonic, angelic and tiglic acids; (b) a neutral ester of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid containing the group <FORM:0767033/IV(a)/1> with a C1-C18 saturated monohydric aliphatic alcohol, e.g. esters of maleic, fumaric, citraconic and mesaconic acids; and (c) a compound of the formula <FORM:0767033/IV(a)/2> wherein X is hydrogen, methyl or a halogen, and Y is RCOO-, wherein R is a C1-C18 hydrocarbon group, or Y is a cyanide radical, or Y is a monocyclic aromatic group, e.g. vinyl, isopropenyl and alpha-chlorvinyl acetates, acrylonitrile and styrene.  Alcohols used in preparing the esters of the unsaturated acids are lauryl and 2-ethylhexyl alcohols, palm kernel alcohols and the alcohols sold under the Registered Trade Marks "Lorol" and "Lorol B".  Since the terpolymers are desirably oil-soluble the alcohols preferably have more than 8 carbon atoms in the molecule.  Catalysts specified are benzoyl, lauroyl and hydrogen peroxides, cumene and urea hydroperoxides, tert.-butyl perbenzoate, ammonium or potassium persulphates and redox systems such as persulphate-thiosulphate and persulphate-aldehyde systems. Also present during polymerization may be modifiers such as thiols, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, petroleum sulphonic acids and alcohol.  Polymerization may be carried out in bulk, in solution in solvents such as naphtha, lubricating oil fractions, white oils, benzene, toluene, ethers, carbon tetrachloride or chloroform, or in emulsion in water containing an emulsifier such as soap.  The terpolymers are added to lubricating oils pour-point depressants and viscosity index improvers.ALSO:Lubricating compositions comprise a mineral or synthetic lubricating oil and, as a viscosity index improver and pour-point depressant, a terpolymer obtained by the copolymerization of (a) an ester of an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid with a saturated C1-C18 monohydric aliphatic alcohol, e.g. esters of acrylic, methacrylic, crotonic, isocrotonic, angelic and tiglic acids, (b) a neutral ester of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid containing the group:- <FORM:0767033/III/1> with a C1-C18 saturated monohydric aliphatic alcohol, e.g. esters of maleic, fumaric, citraconic and mesaconic acids, and (c) a compound of the general formula:- <FORM:0767033/III/2> wherein X is hydrogen, methyl or a halogen and Y is R COO- wherein R is a C1-C18 hydrocarbon group, or Y is a cyanide radical, or Y is a monocyclic aromatic group, e.g. vinyl, isopropenyl, and alpha-chlorvinyl acetates and acrylonitrile. Alcohols specified which are used in preparing the esters of the unsaturated acids are lauryl and 2 - ethylhexyl alcohols, palm kernel alcohols and the alcohols sold under the Registered Trade Marks "Lorol" and "Lorol B," the preferred alcohols being those having more than 8 carbon atoms in the molecule.  Synthetic lubricating oils mentioned are those comprising esters and/or complex esters.