Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10M—LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATING INGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION
  • C10M123/00—Lubricating compositions characterised by the thickener being a mixture of two or more compounds covered by more than one of the main groups C10M113/00 - C10M121/00, each of these compounds being essential
  • C10M123/04—Lubricating compositions characterised by the thickener being a mixture of two or more compounds covered by more than one of the main groups C10M113/00 - C10M121/00, each of these compounds being essential at least one of them being a macromolecular compound
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10M—LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATING INGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION
  • C10M2207/00—Organic non-macromolecular hydrocarbon compounds containing hydrogen, carbon and oxygen as ingredients in lubricant compositions
  • C10M2207/10—Carboxylix acids; Neutral salts thereof
  • C10M2207/12—Carboxylix acids; Neutral salts thereof having carboxyl groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms
  • C10M2207/125—Carboxylix acids; Neutral salts thereof having carboxyl groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms having hydrocarbon chains of eight up to twenty-nine carbon atoms, i.e. fatty acids
  • C10M2207/126—Carboxylix acids; Neutral salts thereof having carboxyl groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms having hydrocarbon chains of eight up to twenty-nine carbon atoms, i.e. fatty acids monocarboxylic
  • C10M2207/1265—Carboxylix acids; Neutral salts thereof having carboxyl groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms having hydrocarbon chains of eight up to twenty-nine carbon atoms, i.e. fatty acids monocarboxylic used as thickening agent
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10M—LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATING INGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION
  • C10M2209/00—Organic macromolecular compounds containing oxygen as ingredients in lubricant compositions
  • C10M2209/02—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C10M2209/08—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing monomers having an unsaturated radical bound to a carboxyl radical, e.g. acrylate type
  • C10M2209/084—Acrylate; Methacrylate
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10M—LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATING INGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION
  • C10M2217/00—Organic macromolecular compounds containing nitrogen as ingredients in lubricant compositions
  • C10M2217/02—Macromolecular compounds obtained from nitrogen containing monomers by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C10M2217/022—Macromolecular compounds obtained from nitrogen containing monomers by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing monomers having an unsaturated radical bound to an amino group
  • C10M2217/023—Macromolecular compounds obtained from nitrogen containing monomers by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing monomers having an unsaturated radical bound to an amino group the amino group containing an ester bond
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10M—LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATING INGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION
  • C10M2217/00—Organic macromolecular compounds containing nitrogen as ingredients in lubricant compositions
  • C10M2217/02—Macromolecular compounds obtained from nitrogen containing monomers by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C10M2217/024—Macromolecular compounds obtained from nitrogen containing monomers by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing monomers having an unsaturated radical bound to an amido or imido group
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10M—LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATING INGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION
  • C10M2221/00—Organic macromolecular compounds containing sulfur, selenium or tellurium as ingredients in lubricant compositions
  • C10M2221/02—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions of monomers involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10M—LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATING INGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION
  • C10M2225/00—Organic macromolecular compounds containing phosphorus as ingredients in lubricant compositions
  • C10M2225/02—Macromolecular compounds from phosphorus-containg monomers, obtained by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10N—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS C10M RELATING TO LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS
  • C10N2020/00—Specified physical or chemical properties or characteristics, i.e. function, of component of lubricating compositions
  • C10N2020/01—Physico-chemical properties
  • C10N2020/055—Particles related characteristics
  • C10N2020/061—Coated particles
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10N—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS C10M RELATING TO LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS
  • C10N2040/00—Specified use or application for which the lubricating composition is intended
  • C10N2040/02—Bearings
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10N—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS C10M RELATING TO LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS
  • C10N2050/00—Form in which the lubricant is applied to the material being lubricated
  • C10N2050/10—Semi-solids; greasy

Definitions

• the invention relates to a lubricating grease and to a process for preparing a lubricating grease.
• Greases are used to provide lubrication in a variety of applications including bearings for constant-velocity joints, ball joints, wheel bearings, alternators, cooling fans, ball screws, linear guides of machine tools, sliding areas of construction equipment, and bearings and gears in steel equipment and various other industrial mechanical facilities.
• the present inventors have sought to provide a grease that has comparable properties to current lithium-based greases, but contains a reduced amount of lithium.
• the present inventors have also sought to provide a process for the manufacture of such greases.
• the invention provides a grease comprising:
• the inventors have surprisingly found that incorporating a dispersing polymer enables the skilled person to incorporate less metal soap yet still provide a grease with desirable properties.
• the grease comprises greater than 60wt% of a base oil, wherein the weight percentage is based upon the weight of the grease.
• the grease comprises greater than 70wt% of a base oil, more preferably greater than 80wt%.
• the grease comprises less than 95wt% of a base oil, more preferably less than 92wt%.
• the base oil is one which may ordinarily be used as the base oil of a grease composition and there are no special restrictions.
• the base oil is suitably chosen from mineral oils, synthetic oils, synthetic esters, naphthenic oils or animal and plant oils, and mixtures thereof.
• the grease comprises base oils which belong to Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V and so on of the API (American Petroleum Institute) base oil categories.
• the grease comprises base oils which belong to Group I or Group II of the API base oil categories, and more preferably the base oil consists essentially of one or more Group I or Group II base oils or group V Naphthenic base oils.
• Group I base oils include, for example, paraffinic mineral oils obtained by a suitable combination of refining processes such as solvent refining, hydrorefining, and dewaxing in respect of lubricating oil fractions obtained by atmospheric distillation of crude oil.
• Group II base oils include, for example, paraffinic mineral oils obtained by a suitable combination of refining processes such as hydrorefining and dewaxing in respect of lubricating oil fractions obtained by atmospheric distillation of crude oil.
• Group III base oils and Group II+ base oils include paraffinic mineral oils manufactured by a high degree of hydrorefining in respect of lubricating oil fractions obtained by atmospheric distillation of crude oil, base oils refined by the Isodewax process which dewaxes and substitutes the wax produced by the dewaxing process with isoparaffins, and base oils refined by the Mobil wax isomerisation process.
• synthetic oils include polyolefins, polyoxyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol, esters such as di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate or di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, polyol esters such as trimethylolpropane esters or pentaerythritol esters, perfluoroalkyl ethers, silicone oils and polyphenyl ethers.
• Polyolefins include polymers of various olefins or hydrides thereof. Any olefin may be used, and as examples mention may be made of ethylene, propylene, butene and ⁇ -olefins with five or more carbons. In the manufacture of polyolefins, olefins may be used singly or two or more kinds may be used in combination. Particularly suitable are the polyolefins called poly- ⁇ -olefins (PAO). These are base oils of Group IV.
• PAO poly- ⁇ -olefins
• GTL (gas to liquid) base oils synthesised by the Fischer-Tropsch method of converting natural gas to liquid fuel have a very low sulphur content and aromatic content compared with mineral oil base oils refined from crude oil.
• Fischer-Tropsch derived base oils have a very high paraffin constituent ratio, and so have excellent oxidative stability.
• the various base oils may be used singly or in mixtures.
• the grease comprises from 1 to 19wt% of a metal soap, wherein the weight percentage is based upon the weight of the grease.
• the present inventors have sought to reduce the amount of metal soap in the grease, so desirably the amount of metal soap is as low as possible whilst giving the desired grease properties.
• the grease comprises from 1 to 15wt% of a metal soap, more preferably from 1 to 10wt% of a metal soap, even more preferably from 1 to 5wt% of a metal soap and most preferably from 1 to 3wt% of a metal soap.
• a metal soap is a metal salt of a fatty acid. More than one metal may be present in the soap such that the soap is a mixed metal soap.
• Suitable metals include lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, zinc and aluminium. Preferred metals are lithium and calcium. The most preferred metal is lithium.
• Suitable fatty acids include C 12 -C 25 long chain fatty acids, which may be saturated or unsaturated, and which may contain substituents such as hydroxyl groups.
• Preferred fatty acids include lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, 12-hydroxy stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Most preferred fatty acids are stearic acid and 12-hydroxy stearic acid.
• the fatty acids may be used as pure compounds or alternatively can be used as derived from fats such as tallow, coconut oil, palm kernel oil or olive oil.
• the grease comprises from 1 to 19wt% of a non-aqueous dispersant composite, wherein the weight percentage is based upon the weight of the grease.
• the non-aqueous dispersant composite is used herein to thicken the grease.
• the present inventors have found that the combination of a metal soap and a non-aqueous dispersant composite can provide an effective grease, whilst reducing the amount of metal soap that is required.
• the amount of non-aqueous dispersant composite is preferably greater than 2wt%, more preferably greater than 3wt%.
• the amount of non-aqueous dispersant composite is preferably less than 15wt%, more preferably less than 10wt%.
• Non-aqueous dispersants are typically polymers, also called stabilizing polymers, which are suitable for dispersing solids in a non-aqueous medium.
• conventional NADs are block type polymers.
• Such conventional NADs have been developed in which the to-be-dispersed particles are bound to the stabilizing polymer.
• Such stabilized particles are hereinafter referred to as non-aqueous dispersant composites (NADCs).
• NADCs non-aqueous dispersant composites
• NADCs suitable for use in the greases of the present invention have a better thickening effect in various apolar media compared with prior art NADCs.
• the NADCs for use in the present invention consist of a core which is swellable and not soluble in apolar media and a covalently-bonded outer layer of a specific dispersing or stabilizing polymer that surrounds the core. Due to the compatibility of the dispersing-polymer-part of the NADC with non-aqueous media in combination with the fact that the core polymer also has an affinity for non-aqueous media, without that said core polymer dissolves, the stability of the resulting dispersion is guaranteed. This allows for the production of the said NADCs that are fully compatible with non-aqueous media.
• the NADCs used herein comprise a dispersing polymer that is covalently bonded to the core and wherein the dispersing polymer contains both acidic and basic moieties.
• the dispersion polymer of the NADCs used herein contains one or more moieties derived from oil-soluble monomers, including monomers like bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters.
• Such NADCs have been found to be compatible with a variety of apolar media whereby the core polymer together with the dispersing polymer provided the desired thickening effect.
• the dispersion polymer of the NADCs used herein contain one or more moieties derived from bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters.
• NADCs used in the present invention were found to be both exceptionally compatible with a variety of apolar media whereby the combination of swellable core polymer with a dispersing polymer, preferably with acid and base moieties and/or bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters, were able to provide the desired thickening effect.
• NADCs used herein are useful as a thickener in various apolar, also called non-polar or non-aqueous media.
• apolar media is herein defined to have a dielectric coefficient of less than 7 at 20°C.
• apolar media is herein defined to have a dielectric coefficient of less than 6.5, 6, 5.5, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, or 3.
• the dielectric constant is measured in accordance with ASTM D150.
• the NADCs consist of a core which is swellable and not soluble in said media, and a dispersing polymer that is covalently-bonded to said core.
• Swelling in apolar media is used herein for polymers which, when mixed with base oil 500n (Daesan) ex Shell (5g/50ml), and filtering the mixture with a 150ml, 60mm diameter, glass-frit filter type P4 (with 10-16 micron pores) at 25°C, whereby the oil is removed by applying vacuum under the glass frit, followed by air being sucked through the polymer and the glass frit for 10 minutes, followed by a single rinse and stir with 50ml ethanol and again pulling air through the polymer and the glass frit for 5 minutes, contain from 1 to 99 percent by weight (%w/w) of the base oil, based on the weight of the dry polymer.
• the polymer, after removal of the unbound oil contains more than 2, 3, 4, or 5 %w/w of the oil, based on the weight of the dry polymer. In an embodiment, the polymer, after removal of the unbound oil, contains less than 75, 55, 40, 30, 25, 20, 15, or 10 %w/w of the oil, based on the weight of the dry polymer.
• the term "not soluble” herein means that the core material in its pure form has a solubility in heptane of less than 5 g/l at 20 °C. In an embodiment, the non-soluble core has a solubility in heptane of at most 2, 1, or 0.5 g/l at 20°C.
• Full compatibility, also referred to as compatible, of a polymer means that the polymer has a solubility in heptane of at least 5 g/l at 20 °C.
• the polymer when not bound to a core, has said solubility in heptane.
• the dispersing polymer, when not bound to a core has a solubility in heptane of 7, 10, or 15 g/l at 20 °C.
• the solubility of the dispersing polymer increases with increasing temperatures.
• the dispersing polymer is located on the outside of the core, not necessarily in a shell-like structure, but the dispersing polymer will be located in a shell-like area surrounding the core. Especially when present in an apolar medium, they are believed to be able to form "fringes” or “tails” that stick out from the core into the medium, thus dispersing the core in said medium. Due to the compatibility of the dispersing-polymer-part of the NADC with non-aqueous media, as well as the fact that the dispersing polymer was covalently bonded to the swellable, but non-soluble, core, the NADCs used herein that are compatible with apolar media are obtained. The NADCs when dispersed, showed excellent storage stability in the media combined with an exceptional thickening of the media.
• the dispersing-polymer-part of the NADC must be derived from a mixture of monomers such that it contains both lyophilic, preferably oleophilic, monomers having an affinity for the apolar medium to be thickened, and/or monomers with a combination of acidic and basic moieties.
• the NADCs comprise one or more dispersing polymers that are covalently bonded to the core and wherein the dispersing polymer contains lyophilic, preferably oleophilic, moieties, and/or acidic and basic moieties.
• the dispersing polymer of the NADC is obtainable from a polymerization wherein a mixture of two or more monomers is present, as desired.
• the acid and basic groups can be introduced through two different types of monomer, each bearing either the acid or basic functionality or one monomer can bear both the acid and base functionality, as in betaines which have a polymerizable group, or the monomers can be grafted onto a polymer.
• a prepolymer is made using one or more monomers with either acid or basic functionality, after which the resulting prepolymer is reacted with a reactant bearing groups capable of reacting with the prepolymer as well as groups of the other type of functionality, whereby part or all of the acid or base groups of the prepolymer are still present in the final polymer.
• the ratio in which the acid and basic functions are present in the dispersing polymer can be varied within a wide range.
• the ratio of acid and basic groups ranges from 1:99 to 99:1 mole%.
• the molar ratio between acid and base groups of the polymer is more than 5:95, more than 10:90, more than 25:75, more than 40:60, or more than 50:50.
• the molar ratio between acid and base groups of the polymer is less than 95:5, less than 90:10, less than 80:20, less than 75:25, or less than 70:30.
• the acid and base groups are present in the polymer in a molar ratio between 50:50 and 70:30.
• each dispersing polymer molecule comprises sufficient acid functions to generate the desired thickening effect.
• the number of acid functions on the polymer is suitably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 50 or more per polymer molecule.
• the number of acid functions on the polymer can be 1000, 100, 50, 20, 10, or less.
• each dispersing polymer molecule comprises sufficient base functions to generate the desired thickening effect.
• the number of base functions on the polymer is suitably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 50 or more per polymer molecule.
• the number of base functions on the polymer can be 1000, 100, 50, 20, 10, or less. If the base function is an amine, then the number is suitably much higher than the amount of acid groups in the polymer.
• the number of base functions on the polymer can then be 30000, 10000, 5000, 2000, 1000, or less.
• Such polymers are characterized by a positive base number which is used in its conventional meaning and is a measure for the amount of free amine functions that can be reacted with acidic moieties.
• an excess of amine base function, compared to the acid function, is present in the dispersing polymer.
• the excess is such that when the amine function has reacted with the acidic function of the dispersing polymer, the excess results in a total base number of 6-90 mg/kg dispersing polymer.
• the base number is suitably determined in accordance with ASTM D 4739-02, optionally using a solution in heptane.
• the one or more acid functions of the polymer are obtained by polymerization of one or more monomers selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids, unsaturated sulfonic acids, unsaturated phosphoric acids, and unsaturated boric acids.
• Unsaturated sulfonic acid monomers include 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, 2-sulfoethyl acrylate, 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate, 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate, sodium styrene (4-)sulfonate, and 2-propene-1-sulfonic acid, and salts thereof, and combinations thereof.
• Unsaturated phosphoric acids include phosphoric acid 2-hydroxyethyl (m)ethacrylate ester, and phosphoric acid esters of alkoxylated (m)ethacrylates.
• the one or more base functions of the polymer are derived from monomers with primary, secondary, or tertiary amine groups.
• they are primary amine monomers selected from vinyl amine, lysine, allylamine, and 2-aminoethyl methacrylate.
• they are secondary amine monomers selected from N-methylvinylamine, tert-butylaminoethyl methacrylate (TBAEMA), and N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide.
• tertiary amine monomers selected from dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide (DMAPMA), 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), dimethylaminopropyl methacrylate, 2-vinyl-1-methylpyridine, 2-dimethylaminoethyl(m)ethacrylate, and N-vinylpyrrolidone.
• DMAPMA dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide
• DMAEMA 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate
• the basic amine monomers are supplied in the salt form, usually a salt with hydrochloric acid.
• the salt can be a (metho)sulfate or phosphate.
• At least one monomer selected from bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters being a (meth)acryloyl radical bonded to a six-membered carbon atom bridged ring is used when making the dispersing polymer.
• Such monomers are lyophilic and oleophilic.
• Said group of monomers include products like decahydronaphthyl (meth)acrylates, and adamantyl (meth)acrylates, but preferred are products according to formula (I) wherein
• bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters include isobornyl (meth)acrylate, bornyl (meth)acrylate, fenchyl (meth)acrylate, isofenchyl (meth)acrylate, norbornyl methacrylate, cis, (endo) 3-methylamino-2-bornyl (meth)acrylate, 1,4,5,6,7,7-hexachlorobicyclo [2.2.1]-hept-5-ene-2-ol methacrylate (HCBOMA) and 1,4,5,6,7,7-hexachlorobicyclo [2.2.1]-hept-5-ene-2 methanol methacrylate (HCBMA), and mixtures of such bicyclic methacrylates.
• (meth)acrylates as used herein is used to cover both the corresponding acrylate and methacrylate.
• the chlorinated compounds are less preferred since they can liberate corrosive HCl, depending on the circumstances.
• a preferred bicyclic methacrylate ester is isobornyl methacrylate.
• the bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters are known per se and may be prepared in known fashion or may be obtained from commercial sources. It was found that the use of these monomers when preparing the dispersing polymer results in a NADC having an enhanced thickening effect in a very wide range of apolar media.
• one or more lyophilic monomers selected from oil-soluble monomers other than bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters is used.
• Suitable oil-soluble monomers include C 10 - 18 -alkyl (meth)acrylates or mixtures thereof, such as lauryl methacrylate, monomers having one or more 12-hydroxystearic acid residues, vinyl aromatic monomers such as styrene, tert-butyl styrene, tert-octyl styrene, and vinyltoluene, and hydrocarbon monomers such as isoprene and butadiene.
• oil-soluble monomer means that the monomer will be miscible with heptane in a concentration of at least 25% by weight at 20 °C. Suitably they are miscible with heptane in a concentration of at least 75% by weight at 20°C. In an embodiment, the oil-soluble monomer is miscible with heptane in all concentrations at weight at 20°C.
• the amount of bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters, or if not used the amount of oil-soluble monomers, or if both are used is 5 percent by weight (%w/w) or more of the total amount of monomers comprised in the dispersing polymer.
• the total amount of bicyclic (meth)acrylate esters and oil-soluble monomers is 10, 20, 40, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, or 95 %w/w or more.
• these vinyl silicones and vinyl benzyl ethers make up from 0.01 to 25, 20, 15, 10, or 5 percent by weight (%w/w) of the total amount of monomers comprised in the dispersing polymer.
• C1-9 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid such as ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, as well as acrylic acid and methacrylic acid themselves, other derivatives of those acids such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide and methacrylamide, vinyl esters of organic and inorganic acids such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride.
• (meth)acrylic acid such as ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethy
• the amount of such lower alkyl (meth) acrylates is kept low, suitably an amount of 0.01 to 25, 20, 15, 10, or 5 percent by weight (%w/w) of the total amount of monomers comprised in the dispersing polymer is used.
• the dispersing polymer can have a molecular weight within a wide range. Typically the thickening power becomes higher as the molecular weight increases.
• the weight averaged molecular weight is at least 7000 D. In an embodiment the molecular weight is 10, 20, 50, 100. or 200 kD or more. For practical purposes the maximum weight averaged molecular weight is suitably 20.000.000 D.
• the polydispersity of the polymer is typically in the range of 1.5-10. For polymers with a higher polydispersity the molecular weight is suitably towards the higher end of the range.
• the average radius of gyration, or hydrodynamic volume, of the dispersing polymer (without attachment to a core), as determined by dynamic and static light scattering in n-heptane, is suitably 20-200 nm. In an embodiment the radius of gyration of the polymer is 25-150 nm.
• the core can be any polymer that is swellable but not dissolving in the apolar medium and which allows the dispersing polymer to be chemically, preferably covalently, bonded thereto. Any of the monomers mentioned for use in the dispersing polymer production, but not limited thereto, can be used when making a core polymer.
• the core polymer does not comprise acid and base monomers.
• the core is a cross-linked polymeric material.
• crosslinking monomers used to make such a cross-linked polymer include allyl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (Sartomer® SR 351), diallyl phthalate, the aromatic diacrylate of bisphenol A (Photomer® 4028), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and analogs thereof like hexanediol dimethacrylate, and divinylbenzene.
• crosslinking monomers are used in an amount of 0.2 to 2%w/w, based on the weight of all monomers.
• For a core polymer with a higher molecular weight usually less crosslinking monomer is used and vice versa.
• core polymers that contain lyophilic monomers the amount of crosslinking monomer is suitably increased to prevent the core polymer from becoming soluble.
• Monomers that are suitably used for making core polymers are those monomers that show little or no solubility in heptane. They are suitably used in combination with comonomers that are more polar, like (meth)acrylic acid, or less polar, like butyl meth(acrylate) and styrene.
• the monomers for forming the core polymer consists of 50%w/w of more of C1-3 alkyl (meth)acrylates.
• the core can be pre-formed, meaning that first a core polymer is produced, which is subsequently reacted such that a dispersing polymer becomes attached to it.
• This reaction can be through any reactive group on the core polymer.
• the dispersion polymer may also be grafted onto the core.
• this grafting process is a conventional process in which in a first step a hydrogen atom is abstracted from the core polymer.
• the grafting process is achieved through a radical polymerization of monomers in the presence of the core polymer.
• hydrogen atoms are abstracted from both a core and a dispersion polymer. This is suitably done in an extruder.
• the dispersing polymer is formed first after which parts of the dispersing polymer is reacted with further reactants to form a core polymer.
• This process can be a radical polymerization process using monomers as mentioned above, or it can be a condensation process, such as by condensing acid groups with polyols or reacting basic groups with polyacids, or an addition process, for instance reacting an isocyanate with part of the basic functions of the dispersing polymer.
• Such reactions of the dispersing polymer to form the NADC is suitably performed using an aqueous medium wherein the reactants are dispersed.
• the average particle size of the core polymer is 500 nm, 400, 300, 200, 100, or 50 nm or less.
• the particle size is 1, 2, 5, or 10 nm or more.
• the weight ratio of core and dispersing polymer in the NADCs can be varied within a wide range.
• the ratio of core and dispersing polymer ranges from 1:99 to 99:1 %w/w.
• the weight ratio between core and dispersing polymer is more than 5:95, more than 10:90, more than 15:85, more than 20:80, or more than 25:75.
• the weight ratio between core and dispersing polymer is less than 90:10, less than 70:30, less than 50:50, less than 40:60, or less than 30:70.
• the core and dispersing polymer is present in a weight ratio between 10:90 and 30:70.
• any conventional polymerization process can be used to form the NADCs used in the present invention, see above for some particular elements.
• the polymerization of the NADC is conducted in the presence of a medium in which the dispersing polymer is compatible (i.e. the polymer is soluble is said medium).
• Media that may be used include solvents containing 50 or more % by weight of one or more C7-C22 hydrocarbon, such as heptane, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, pentadecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, octadecane, and any of their isomers, such as tri isododecane.
• the medium suitably comprises other apolar solvents such as liquid propane, butane, pentane, hexane, but also toluene, xylene and oils may be used.
• the media is chosen so that it can be removed from the NADC by volatilization, i.e. evaporation, of the medium. This can be at lowered pressures and/or higher temperatures if desired.
• the media has a boiling point or boiling point range within the range of from -5 to 150 °C at 1 bara.
• the lowest boiling point of the medium coincides with the polymerization temperature during the polymerization step. This allows the polymerization to be performed under reflux conditions, ensuring a good temperature control.
• the medium when removed from the product, is recycled to the polymerization step.
• the medium comprises heptane.
• an aqueous process such as an emulsion or suspension polymerization. It is noted that if making the dispersing polymer involves reactions with one or more isocyanates, it is preferred to use an organic medium and not an aqueous medium.
• the dispersing polymer is suitably made by polymerization of the monomers in the presence of the core polymer.
• all monomers of the dispersing polymer can be added at once or they can be, wholly or partly, added consecutively, in any order and in any combination.
• the dispersing polymer is produced first, and then modified with an agent that will allow later reaction with monomers that make up the core.
• all the polymerization initiator, or constituents making up the initiating species can be added at once or they can, wholly or partly, be added consecutively, in any order and in any combination.
• the initiating species can be conventional organic peroxides, redox-type initiators, and/or reagents allowing a living-type free radical polymerization.
• conventional polymerization techniques are used, such as batch and semi-batch processes.
• all monomer is added at once and part of the initiating species, or one of its constituents, is added over time during the course of the polymerization.
• an NADC used herein is formed by copolymerizing the lyophilic monomer of the formula together with additional monomers to form a swellable core polymer that constitutes mainly of the other monomers which is stabilized by the hydroxystearic function, which is subsequently reacted with molecules providing acid and base functionality, e.g. by reaction with specific epoxides or isocyanates, or by radical reactions with monomers as presented above.
• the grease may comprise one or more additives, in amounts normally used in this field of application, to impart certain desirable characteristics to the grease including oxidation stability, tackiness, extreme pressure properties, corrosion inhibition, reduced friction and wear, and combinations thereof.
• the grease suitably comprises from 0.1wt% to 15wt%, preferably from 0.1wt% to 5wt%, more preferably from 0.1wt% to 2wt%, and even more preferably from 0.2wt% to 1wt% of one or more additives, based upon the weight of the grease.
• the grease may be produced using commonly known grease production methods.
• a metal soap, the non-aqueous dispersant/non-aqueous dispersant composite and any additives are mixed with the base oil to form the grease.
• the metal soap is formed in situ.
• a metal salt and the fatty acid are added the base oil and saponification occurs to generate the metal soap in the base oil.
• the non-aqueous dispersant/non-aqueous dispersant composite and any additives may be added before, during or after production of the metal salt in the base oil. Heating may be used to ensure all components are melted and thereafter to dehydrate the composition. Blending is effected through vigorous stirring and the mixture allowed to return to room temperature.
• Homogenisation of the resulting grease composition may be required and, if so, is typically performed using a roll mixer, such as a three-roll mill or a high pressure homogeniser.
• the grease may be subjected to further finishing procedures such as filtration and de-aeration.
• the penetration of the grease may be measured using ASTM D 217.
• the worked penetration of the grease at 25°c (60 strokes) is from 200 to 400 tenths of a mm, more preferably from 220 to 340 tenths of a mm.
• Such penetrations are typical of grease compositions having grades 1 to 3 in the NLGI classification.
• the dropping point of the grease may be measured using ASTM D 2265 or IP 396.
• the dropping point is preferably as high as possible, e.g. from 160 to 200°C or higher.
• the grease of the invention is suitably used in typical applications for lubricating greases such as in constant-velocity joints, ball joints, wheel bearings, alternators, cooling fans, ball screws, linear guides of machine tools, sliding areas of construction equipment, and bearings and gears in steel equipment and various other industrial mechanical facilities.
• a representative preparation for a dispersing polymer is given below. It is related to the methods given in the book " Dispersion polymerization in organic media” (edited by K.E.J. Barrett, John Wiley & Sons, 1975), pages 106-114 for the dispersant polymer and functionalization, and pages 234-241 for the formation of the dispersing polymer.
• the following acronyms are used:
• a 3-1, 4-neck round bottom flask is equipped with a stainless steel stirrer, thermometer, a condenser, a heating media, a slow add funnel and a syringe pump.
• 158 g of heptane is added followed by 350 g of a mixture of monomer as mentioned in the table below.
• the addition vessels are rinsed/flushed with 11 g of heptane.
• the mixture is brought to reflux and after 5 minutes 60% of a mixture of 2.3g of Trigonox® 125 - C25 (t-amyl peroxypivalate) and 210 g of heptane is added over a period of 15 minutes.
• a mixture of 94 g of heptane, 10% of a solution of a core mixture comprising 45g of a core monomer mixture of methyl methacrylate and further (co)monomer as indicated in example 1 a mixture of MMA and AA in a weight ratio of 75/25
• this core mixture also the dosing starts of an initiator mixture of 1.44 g of Trigonox® 125 - C25 in 102 g of heptane.
• the initiator mixture is added over a 5 hour period. After 40 minutes of the start of the addition of the initiator, the remaining 90% of the core mixture is added over a 3 h period.
• the NADCs of the above procedures are exchanged into oil solutions using a rotatory evaporator.
• the desired oil is added to the solution in heptane in a calculated amount so the final active level of the NADC in the oil is 15.0%w/w after distilling off the heptane.
• the measurements are conducted with a Brookfield RV viscometer with a Heliopath accessory at room temperature using a spindle type C, on clear, i.e. compatible, 15% solutions or dispersions of dispersing polymers and NADCs in oil. If the viscosity is too high to be accurately measured with a spindle C, then a spindle D can be used.
• NADCs based on long chain alkyl methacrylates, LMA and SMA combined with an acidic monomer, even when used with a monomer with hydroxyl or amide functions showed reasonable to good compatibilities in the types of oils that were tested, but exhibited too little viscosifying or thickening power.
• the polymer of example 1 showed better properties.
• Example 3 when compared to Example 1, shows that increasing the amount of iBXMA improved the thickening effect of the NADC. This was confirmed in Example 6. Also in Examples 2-4 the improved properties were observed, but it was realized that the basic monomer that is used influences performance to a certain extent.
• Example 5 shows that the amount of crosslinker in the core of the NADC can have an influence on the dispersibility of the NADC, but Example 6 shows this can be compensated by adapting the dispersing polymer part. Hence some routine optimization may be needed for a specific core material, by varying the monomer levels of the dispersing polymer.
• Comparative Examples 1 to 5 illustrate the effect of LiHSA and its ability to form lubricating grease from the selected base oils. Addition of 10%w of LiHSA to base oil gives well-structured grease samples with high dropping points and excellent mechnanical stability. Upon addition of only 5%w of LiHSA no suitable grease is obtained (penetration >475dmm, Comparative Examples 1 and 5). Further addition of 5w% of NADC (NAD Ex. 5) in Grease Example 1 delivers a better structured grease and a higher dropping point is observed, though the mechanical stability is not fully satisfying. Several modifications of the NADC lead to an improvement of the grease properties.
• Grease Example 2 describes the use of an NADC with a modified core composition (NAD Ex.
• Grease Example 3 describes addition of 5%w of NAD Ex. 9, which contains a basic monomer to a grease containing 5%w of LiHSA. This grease exhibits further improved mechanical stability and a high dropping point.
• Grease Examples 4 and 5 use an NADC containing IBXMA (NAD Ex. 10), which leads to improved structuring and mechanical stability of the grease. Increasing the amount of NADC from 5 to 10%w results in a stiffer grease without compromising the mechanical stability.
• Grease Examples 6 and 7 illustrate how the grease properties can be further improved when a commercial base grease from a grease manufacturing plant is used as the source of LiHSA. This grease was diluted with base oil (Daesan 500N) to give 5%w overall LiHSA concentration. An increased dropping point and a better structuring was observed, which leads to a stiffer grease.
• base oil Liesan 500N

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• 2017
  • 2017-07-11 EP EP17180784.5A patent/EP3428251A1/fr not_active Withdrawn

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