JP2009221382A - Lubricating oil composition - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lubricating oil composition which has excellent fuel-saving property and at the same time can suppress the generation of noise and vibration. <P>SOLUTION: The lubricating oil composition is one that is obtained by using a lubricating base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100°C of 3.5-10 mm<SP>2</SP>/s and a viscosity index of not lower than 100, and by blending (a) an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer having a number-average molecular weight of 2,500-25,000, and/or (b) a polymethacrylate having a number-average molecular weight of 10,000-30,000, wherein the composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100°C of 5.6-15.0 mm<SP>2</SP>/s. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricating oil composition, and more particularly to a lubricating oil composition capable of suppressing noise generation and simultaneously imparting fuel economy when a mechanical device such as an internal combustion engine is filled. It is.

In recent years, the production and use of automobiles and industrial machinery has been rapidly increasing on a global scale, and the energy such as petroleum consumed has been increased accordingly. For this reason, air pollution due to the use of energy is extremely advanced, which is a serious problem.
In order to prevent such air pollution, it is necessary to reduce the exhaust gas emitted from automobiles, which are the main source of air pollution. It is required to achieve fuel saving with oil.
By the way, as a fuel-saving method in lubricating oil, for example, lubricating oil for internal combustion engines (engine oil), in order to reduce friction loss (stirring resistance) due to engine oil, reducing its viscosity (reducing viscosity). It is known to be effective (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, simply lowering the viscosity of the lubricating oil, such as using a low-viscosity base oil, causes a problem that engine noise and vibration increase. This noise and vibration is a cause of serious adverse effects on the living environment as noise and vibration pollution.
Therefore, for fuel-saving lubricating oils, it is desired to develop a lubricating oil composition that can reduce the viscosity of the lubricating oil to have fuel-saving properties and can suppress the generation of noise and vibration.

JP 2004-137317 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating oil composition that has excellent fuel economy and can suppress the occurrence of noise and vibration under such circumstances.

  As a result of intensive studies to develop a lubricating oil composition having the above-mentioned preferable properties, the present inventor used a specific base oil, and an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer each having a specific molecular weight and It has been found that a composition containing polymethacrylate and adjusted to a specific kinematic viscosity can meet the purpose. The present invention has been completed based on such findings. That is, the present invention

[1] Using a lubricating base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of 3.5 to 10 mm ² / s and a viscosity index of 100 or more, (a) ethylene having a number average molecular weight of 2,500 to 25,000 A lubricating oil composition comprising an α-olefin copolymer and / or (b) a polymethacrylate having a number average molecular weight of 10,000 to 30,000, wherein the composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of 5. A lubricating oil composition of 6 to 15.0 mm ² / s,
[2] The lubricating oil composition according to [1], wherein the lubricating oil composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of 5.6 to 12.5 mm ² / s,
[3] The lubricating oil composition according to [1] or [2], wherein the lubricating base oil has a 100 ° C. kinematic viscosity of 3.5 to 6 mm ² / s,
[4] The above [1] further comprising at least one additive selected from an antioxidant, an extreme pressure agent, an antiwear agent, an oiliness agent, a detergent dispersant, a viscosity index improver, and a pour point depressant. -Lubricating oil composition in any one of [3],
[5] The lubricating oil composition according to any one of [1] to [4], which is used for an internal combustion engine,
Is to provide.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while having the outstanding fuel-saving property, the lubricating oil composition which can suppress generation | occurrence | production of noise and vibration can be provided.

The base oil used in the lubricating oil composition of the present invention requires the use of a base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of 3.5 to 10 mm ² / s and a viscosity index of 100 or more.
If the kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. is less than 3.5 mm ² / s, the generation of noise and vibration may not be sufficiently prevented. If it exceeds 10 mm ² / s, the fuel saving performance may be hindered. For this reason, the kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. is more preferably 3.5 to ⁶ mm ² / s.
Further, the base oil used in the present invention needs to have a viscosity index of 100 or more. If the viscosity index is 100 or more, fuel efficiency can be saved by lowering the low-temperature viscosity of the composition, and at the same time, a decrease in viscosity at a higher temperature can be suppressed, so that the effect of suppressing noise and vibration can be enhanced.
For these reasons, the viscosity index of the base oil is preferably 110 or more, and more preferably 120 or more.
The base oil used in the present invention preferably further has a sulfur content of 1000 mass ppm or less, and more preferably 500 mass ppm or less. If the sulfur content is within 1000 ppm by mass, the stability of the composition can be enhanced.

The base oil in the lubricating oil composition of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the above conditions are satisfied, and mineral oil and / or synthetic oil used for ordinary lubricating oil can be used.
Mineral oil base oils include, for example, atmospheric distillation fractions of crude oil, or lubricating oil fractions obtained by distillation under reduced pressure of atmospheric residual oil obtained by atmospheric distillation, solvent removal, solvent extraction, hydrogenation Isomerized by one or more treatments such as cracking, hydrodewaxing, solvent dewaxing, hydrorefining, etc., or waxes produced by mineral oil wax or Fischer-Tropsch process (gas-tree liquid wax) Base oils produced by doing so.

  On the other hand, as synthetic oil base oil, for example, polybutene or hydride thereof, poly α-olefin such as 1-decene oligomer or hydride thereof, diester such as di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate, Examples thereof include polyol esters such as methylolpropane caprylate and pentaerythritol-2-ethylhexanoate, aromatic synthetic oils such as alkylbenzene and alkylnaphthalene, polyalkylene glycol or derivatives thereof.

In the present invention, mineral oil base oil, synthetic oil base oil, or an arbitrary mixture of two or more selected from these can be used as the base oil. Examples thereof include one or more mineral oil base oils, one or more synthetic oil base oils, a mixed oil of one or more mineral oil base oils and one or more synthetic oil base oils, and the like. In particular, it is preferable to use a mineral oil base oil obtained by performing purification including hydrocracking treatment or a mixture of the base oil and a hydride of poly α-olefin such as 1-decene oligomer.
In the present invention, mineral oil base oil, synthetic oil base oil, or any mixture of two or more selected from these can be used as the base oil.

In the present invention, an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer having a number average molecular weight of 2,500 to 25,000 is used as the component (a).
Here, when the number average molecular weight is less than 2,500, the effect of suppressing noise and vibration is not insufficient, and when the number average molecular weight exceeds 25,000, the shear stability is lowered and the effect is stably achieved. It is difficult to maintain. In consideration of noise and vibration suppression and shear stability, the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer preferably has a number average molecular weight in the range of 2,500 to 5,000.
Moreover, as an alpha olefin used for this ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer, a C3-C20 alpha olefin is preferable, for example, a propylene, 1-butene, 1-decene etc. can be mentioned preferably. The ratio of ethylene to α-olefin is preferably in the range of 1: 9 to 9: 1 (mass ratio).

The ethylene-α-olefin copolymer of component (a) may be used singly or in combination of two or more.
Moreover, the compounding quantity is normally selected in the range of 0.1-20 mass% based on the composition whole quantity. If this amount is 0.1% by mass or more, the effect of suppressing noise and vibration can be obtained, and if it is 20% by mass or less, there is no problem of increasing the viscosity at low temperature, and the shear stability is also good. Yes, the effect can be maintained stably.

In the present invention, a polymethacrylate having a number average molecular weight of 10,000 to 30,000 is used as the component (b). The polymethacrylate may be either non-dispersed or dispersed.
Here, when the number average molecular weight is less than 10,000, the effect of suppressing noise and vibration is not sufficient, and when the number average molecular weight exceeds 30,000, the shear stability is lowered and the effect is stably achieved. It is difficult to maintain. Considering suppression of noise and vibration, shear stability, etc., the preferred number average molecular weight of this polymethacrylate is in the range of 15,000 to 25,000.

The polymethacrylate of component (b) may be used singly or in combination of two or more.
The blending amount may be selected so as to satisfy the kinematic viscosity condition at 100 ° C. of the composition of the present invention, but is usually selected in the range of 0.1 to 10% by mass based on the total amount of the composition. . If this amount is 0.1% by mass or more, a fuel saving effect and an effect of suppressing noise and vibration are obtained, and if it is 10% by mass or less, there is no problem that the viscosity at low temperature becomes excessively high. Shear stability is also good, and the effect can be maintained stably.

As described above, the present invention is a composition obtained by blending the component (a) and / or the component (b) with the base oil. Additives can be used.
For example, at least one selected from among antioxidants, extreme pressure agents, antiwear agents, oiliness agents, detergent dispersants, other viscosity index improvers other than (a) and (b), and pour point depressants. It is preferable to add an additive.

As antioxidant, a phenolic antioxidant and / or an amine antioxidant are mix | blended.
As said phenolic antioxidant, arbitrary things can be suitably selected and used from well-known phenolic antioxidant currently used as antioxidant of lubricating oil. Examples of the phenol-based antioxidant include 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-ethylphenol; 2,4,6-tri-tert. 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol; 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol; 2,4-dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol; 2,6-di-tert-butyl -4- (N, N-dimethylaminomethyl) phenol; 2,6-di-tert-amyl-4-methylphenol; 4,4'-methylenebis (2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 4,4 '-Bis (2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-bis (2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'- Methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2′-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4′-butylidenebis (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4 , 4′-isopropylidenebis (2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 2,2′-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-nonylphenol), 2,2′-isobutylidenebis (4,6-dimethyl) Phenol), 2,2′-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-cyclohexylphenol), 2,4-dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol, 4,4′-thiobis (2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-thiobis (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-thiobis (4-methyl- -Tert-butylphenol), bis (3-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-tert-butylbenzyl) sulfide, bis (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) sulfide, 2,2'-thio -Diethylenebis [3- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], tridecyl-3- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, pentaerythrityl Tetrakis [3- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], octyl-3- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, octadecyl-3- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, o Chill-3- (3-methyl -5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate and the like can be mentioned as preferred examples of.

On the other hand, as the amine-based antioxidant, an arbitrary one can be appropriately selected from known amine-based antioxidants conventionally used as an antioxidant for lubricating oils. Examples of the amine-based antioxidant include diphenylamine-based compounds, specifically diphenylamine and monooctyldiphenylamine; monononyldiphenylamine; 4,4′-dibutyldiphenylamine; 4,4′-dihexyldiphenylamine; 4,4′- 4,4′-dinonyldiphenylamine; tetrabutyldiphenylamine; tetrahexyldiphenylamine; tetraoctyldiphenylamine: alkylated diphenylamine having an alkyl group of 3 to 20 carbon atoms such as tetranonyldiphenylamine, and the like, and naphthylamine type Specifically, α-naphthylamine; phenyl-α-naphthylamine, further butylphenyl-α-naphthylamine; hexylphenyl-α-naphthylamine; Le -α- naphthylamine; and alkyl-substituted phenyl -α- naphthylamine having 3 to 20 carbon atoms such as nonylphenyl -α- naphthylamine. Among these, the diphenylamine type is preferable to the naphthylamine type from the viewpoint of the effect, and in particular, an alkylated diphenylamine having an alkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, especially 4,4′-di (C _{3 to} C ₂₀ alkyl). Diphenylamine is preferred.

In this invention, the said phenolic antioxidant may be used 1 type, and may be used in combination of 2 or more type. Moreover, the said amine antioxidant may be used 1 type, and may be used in combination of 2 or more type. Further, one or more phenolic antioxidants and one or more amine antioxidants may be used in combination.
The blending amount of the antioxidant is preferably 0.05 to 3.0% by mass, more preferably 0.2 to 2.0%, based on the total amount of the lubricating oil composition, from the viewpoint of balance between effect and economy. It is selected in the range of mass%.

Extreme pressure agents and antiwear agents include zinc dithiophosphate, zinc dithiocarbamate, disulfides, sulfurized olefins, sulfurized fats and oils, sulfurized esters, thiocarbonates, thiocarbamates, and other sulfur-containing antiwear agents; Phosphorus-containing antiwear agents such as acid esters, phosphate esters, phosphonate esters and amine salts or metal salts thereof; thiophosphite esters, thiophosphate esters, thiophosphonate esters and amine salts thereof Or sulfur and phosphorus containing antiwear agents, such as a metal salt, are mentioned.
As the oily agent (friction modifier), any compound usually used as a friction modifier for lubricating oils can be used. For example, an alkyl group or alkenyl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, particularly 6 to 30 carbon atoms. And aliphatic amines, fatty acid esters, fatty acid amides, fatty acids, aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic ethers and the like having at least one linear alkyl group or linear alkenyl group in the molecule. The extreme pressure agent, the antiwear agent and the oily agent are each usually in the range of 0.01 to 3% by mass, preferably 0.1 to 1.5% by mass.

Examples of the detergent / dispersant include neutral or overbased sulfonates, phenates, salicylates, carboxylates, phosphonates, and the like containing alkaline earth metals such as Ca, Mg, and Ba. Among these, as the metal-based detergent, Ca sulfonate, Ca salicylate, Ca phenate, and the like are preferable. In particular, overbased (base number by perchloric acid method is 150 to 500 mgKOH / g) Ca sulfonate, Ca Salicylates and Ca phenates are preferred.
Examples of the ashless dispersant include succinimide (including boride) and succinate.
The amount of these detergent dispersants is usually 0.01 to 10% by mass, preferably 0.1 to 5% by mass.

  Examples of other viscosity index improvers other than (a) and (b) include, for example, polymethacrylates other than those described above, olefin copolymers other than those described above, dispersed olefin copolymers, styrene copolymers (for example, Styrene-diene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, etc.). The compounding quantity of these viscosity index improvers is about 0.5-15 mass% normally, Preferably it is 1-10 mass%.

  In the present invention, in addition, a pour point depressant, an antifoaming agent, a surfactant and the like can be blended.

The kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of the lubricating oil composition of the present invention is required to be 5.6 to 15.0 mm ² / s. If the kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of the composition is less than 5.6 mm ² / s, noise and vibration may not be sufficiently prevented. If it exceeds 15.0 mm ² / s, fuel economy may be hindered. For this reason, the kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. is more preferably 5.6 to 12.5 mm ² / s.

The lubricating oil composition of the present invention has excellent fuel economy and has the effect of suppressing the generation of noise and vibration.
For example, if this lubricating oil is used in an internal combustion engine, it is useful as a fuel-saving internal combustion engine oil (engine oil) and can suppress the generation of noise and vibration during engine operation, particularly during acceleration operation. . Therefore, the utility value is particularly high as a lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine used for a four-wheeled vehicle or a two-wheeled vehicle equipped with a four-cycle engine.

EXAMPLES Next, although an Example demonstrates this invention further in detail, this invention is not limited at all by these examples.
Noise and fuel saving were carried out by the following methods.

(1) Evaluation of noise Noise was measured by the following engine motoring device and noise measurement method.
[Engine motoring device and operating conditions]
Engine used: Water-cooled 600cc, 4-cylinder engine Valve type: DOHC (Direct stroke)
Engine speed: 3000rpm
Oil pan oil temperature: 100 ° C
Drive motor: 7.5KW
[Noise measurement method]
Using a sound level meter ("LA5560" manufactured by Ono Sokki Co., Ltd.), a power spectrum (dB) having a frequency of 6300 Hz was measured with a frequency analyzer (Repolizer XN-8100 manufactured by Ono Sokki).
(2) Evaluation of fuel efficiency The fuel efficiency was evaluated by measuring the engine driving torque (Nm) of the motor using the “engine motoring device” for noise (1).
[Engine motoring device and operating conditions]
Engine used: Water-cooled 600cc, 4-cylinder engine Valve type: DOHC (Direct stroke)
Engine speed: 5000rpm
Oil pan oil temperature: 100 ° C
Drive motor: 7.5KW

Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-3
Lubricating oils were prepared using the base oils and additives shown in Table 1, and noise and fuel economy were evaluated by the above methods. The results are shown in Table 1.

[note]
1) Paraffinic mineral oil, 100 ° C. kinematic viscosity 4.469 mm ² / s, viscosity index 127
2) Paraffinic mineral oil, 100 ° C. kinematic viscosity 5.285 mm ² / s, viscosity index 104
3) Paraffinic mineral oil, 100 ° C. kinematic viscosity 10.89 mm ² / s, viscosity index 107
4) Number average molecular weight 300,000
5) Number average molecular weight 21,000
6) Secondary alkyl zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, P content 8.6% by mass
7) Ca sulfonate: base number (perchloric acid method) 300 mg KOH / g, Ca content 12.5% by mass
8) Nitrogen content 1.8% by mass, boron content 2.0% by mass,
9) Nitrogen content 2.3% by mass, boron content 1.9% by mass
10) Nitrogen content 1.0% by mass, boron content 0% by mass
11) Dialkyldiphenylamine 12) Number average molecular weight 2,600, kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. 600 mm ² / s, viscosity index 240
13) Number average molecular weight 3,700, 100 ° C. kinematic viscosity 2,000 mm ² / s, viscosity index 300
14) Antifoaming agent

From Table 1, Examples 1 to 4 use an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer A or B having a number average molecular weight of 2,600 or 3700, and Example 5 is a polymer having a number average molecular weight of 21,000. It can be seen that methacrylate is used, and both satisfy the requirements for the properties of the base oil and the 100 ° C. kinematic viscosity of the composition. These lubricating oil compositions of the present invention are excellent not only in noise reduction but also in fuel saving performance.
On the other hand, Comparative Examples 1 and 2, which do not have the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer or polymethacrylate having the number average molecular weight required by the present invention, have poor performance in either noise reduction or fuel saving. It is enough. Moreover, although the ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer whose number average molecular weight is 3700 is used, the comparative example 3 whose 100 degreeC kinematic viscosity of a composition is 15.4 mm <2> / s is inferior in fuel-saving property.

  The lubricating oil of the present invention is a lubricating oil composition that exhibits excellent fuel economy when used in various mechanical devices including internal combustion engines, and can suppress the generation of noise and vibration. Therefore, it is useful as a lubricating oil for preventing air pollution and noise and vibration pollution.

Claims (5)

Using a lubricating base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of 3.5 to 10 mm ² / s and a viscosity index of 100 or more, (a) an ethylene-α-olefin having a number average molecular weight of 2,500 to 25,000 A lubricating oil composition comprising a copolymer and / or (b) a polymethacrylate having a number average molecular weight of 10,000 to 30,000, wherein the composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of 5.6 to 15 A lubricating oil composition that is 0.0 mm ² / s. The lubricating oil composition according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. of 5.6 to 12.5 mm ² / s. The lubricating oil composition according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating base oil has a 100 ° C. kinematic viscosity of 3.5 to 6 mm ² / s.   Furthermore, an antioxidant, extreme pressure agent, antiwear agent, oiliness agent, detergent dispersant, viscosity index improver, and at least one additive selected from pour point depressants is blended. 4. The lubricating oil composition according to any one of 3.   The lubricating oil composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is used for an internal combustion engine.