JP6375552B2 - Transmission fluid composition for improved energy efficiency - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a transmission fluid composition with improved power transmission characteristics that is improved by the presence of certain specific additives therein. In particular, the present invention provides a transmission fluid composition for an automobile vehicle, the use of which increases to the extent that the fuel efficiency of the driving vehicle can be demonstrated. In addition, the present invention provides methods for producing such transmission fluid compositions, methods for improving transmission energy efficiency, and additive concentrates for transmission fluids, as well as other aspects described below.

There is much about political pressure, regulatory pressure and consumer pressure increasing energy efficiency in the modern world. Machines for many applications rely on cooperation between moving parts to transmit power from the drive unit to the driven unit, and the efficiency of this power transmission contributes to the overall energy efficiency of the machine. The pursuit of even more energy efficient machines is becoming a constant goal in many industrial sectors.
In the automotive sector, power transmission occurs primarily through vehicle drive-train components. The engine's crankshaft is typically coupled to the transmission by some form of clutch, and power transmission occurs across the clutch to drive the transmission and ultimately the load wheel. Further, the clutch may be present in the transmission depending on the vehicle design and its transmission type. An essential feature of such clutches is their ability to effectively transmit power across the contact between the clutch plates. Loss of power transmission between the engine and the road wheel results in reduced energy efficiency for the vehicle, as demonstrated, for example, by poorer fuel efficiency.

  Improving transmission energy efficiency with transmission fluid offers different challenges than improving engine energy efficiency. Generally, energy loss occurs in moving engine parts due to friction. Therefore, a common goal in engine lubrication is to reduce friction and thereby reduce associated energy losses. In contrast, transmissions function by transmitting power across a moving surface with high friction. Therefore, creating a low friction environment between these surfaces will result in loss of energy transfer between surfaces and associated loss of power transmission. At the same time, however, wear needs to be controlled. Thus, the formulation of an effective transmission fluid with a beneficial balance of clutch friction, wear, fatigue prevention and energy efficiency is a complex task and is not readily adapted to routine analysis.

There is a need in the art for improved transmission fluids that provide increased energy efficiency of the associated power transmission device during use. In particular, there is a need in the industry for automotive transmission fluids that provide increased fuel efficiency for a driving vehicle.
An approach to this problem described in the art relates to the modification of transmission fluid viscosity by the use of viscosity modifiers. By changing the viscosity characteristics of the liquid, ie by reducing the liquid viscosity, several benefits in fuel efficiency have been seen in certain cases. However, this effect was attributed to the physical effects of altered bulk liquid viscosity and was associated with several disadvantages, such as mechanical component durability and operational reliability.

The present invention relates to a transmission fluid composition having power transmission characteristics that is improved by the presence of certain specific additives therein. In particular, the present invention provides a transmission fluid for an automobile vehicle whose use increases to the extent that the fuel efficiency of the driving vehicle can be demonstrated.
In particular, the present invention provides performance for transmission fluids when the class of polyalphaolefin polymers made by a particular form of polymerization reaction is present together with one or more detergent additives and a particular detergent compound. It has been determined that it has utility as an additive to enhance the combination and that the combination functions to improve the power transfer characteristics of the liquid. This combination of additives allows the transmission to operate with greater energy efficiency, as can be demonstrated, for example, by increasing the fuel efficiency of the driving vehicle. The polyalphaolefin exhibits advantageous performance as an additive for this purpose when used in an amount not exceeding 4% by weight of the total transmission fluid composition, and 1-3% by weight of the total transmission fluid composition. Show optimum performance when used in quantities in the range.

As the examples below demonstrate, the energy efficiency benefits resulting from the combination of polyalphaolefins, viscosity modifiers and special detergent compounds are substantial in the main viscosity properties (kinematic viscosity and viscosity index) of the comparative liquid. Even under conditions controlled to remain constant. It can thus be seen that the basic effect of the additive combination works independently of the liquid viscosity itself. The improvement in energy efficiency that can be attributed to the combination of additives essential to the present invention is thus attributed to a mechanism that is different from simply reducing the liquid viscosity by approaches known in the art.
US-A-2010 / 0035778 preferably provides a composition for power transmission liquids comprising feedstocks with additives and polyalphaolefin blends, which have, inter alia, improved fuel economy. . In particular, the additive preferably contains a viscosity index improver. This teaching reports the use of feedstocks containing polyalphaolefins (PAO) or PAO blends having an unusual viscosity profile and lists liquid compositions having from about 8% to about 90% by weight PAO blends. doing. An example of the composition comprises a 77.4% by weight PAO blend with a viscosity modifier and detergent additive, including PAO 2cSt and PAO 6cSt in a ratio of 9.4% by weight and 68.0% by weight, respectively. This teaching reports that any number of PAOs can be used as long as the PAO blend is chosen so that the liquid's base viscosity is 4.0 cSt or greater at 100 ° C. This teaching is conceptually incapable of recognizing the benefits resulting from the use of special polyalphaolefins at the additive processing level in the transmission fluid and refocuses on the changed bulk viscosity as a means to enhance liquid performance.

In addition, the present invention provides at least one detergent additive (which comprises one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds, wherein the at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is an alkaline earth metal salicylate or sulfonate. It has been found that the additional presence of the compound) optimizes the energy efficiency improvement obtained by the use of the resulting transmission fluid composition, in particular the vehicle fuel efficiency. Each alkaline earth metal compound present in the transmission fluid composition is preferably a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound, and the total amount of these one or more calcium salicylate compounds is the transmission fluid composition. More preferably, the amount provides a calcium content of 50 to 250 ppm by weight per weight of the transmission fluid composition.
US-A-2010 / 0035778 mentioned earlier also shows that these specific detergent compounds are used in conjunction with specific polyalphaolefins and viscosity modifiers, as demonstrated in the examples below. However, it cannot be predicted that the fuel efficiency will be increased.
In addition, as a preferred optimization, the present invention provides an optimum degree of energy efficiency improvement obtained by the use of a transmission fluid composition that results in the properties of a viscosity modifier used in combination with a particular polyalphaolefin, particularly It has been found that this affects the degree of improvement in vehicle fuel efficiency. As described below, different viscosity modifiers exhibit different improvements in combination with polyalphaolefins when compared in blended oils having comparable viscosity characteristics. Therefore, this further improvement in efficiency can be attributed to the nature of the viscosity modifier itself rather than a different viscosity modifying effect.

Therefore, in the first aspect, the present invention
(i) a lubricant or a blend of lubricants;
(ii) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives,
(iii) one or more polyalphaolefin compounds, and
(iv) providing a transmission fluid composition comprising a detergent additive comprising at least one detergent additive, at least one of which comprises one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds;
The polyalphaolefin compound or each polyalphaolefin compound (iii) is made by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of an alpha olefin feedstock, and the total amount of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) in the transmission fluid composition is the composition 4% by weight of the product and at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is an alkaline earth metal salicylate or sulfonate compound.

  The polyalphaolefin compound or each polyalphaolefin compound (iii) is made by a polymerization reaction in which the corresponding alpha olefin feedstock is polymerized by the action of a metallocene catalyst. Such polyalphaolefins are known per se and are often referred to as “mPAO” in the polymer industry. They have a different structure than polyalphaolefins derived from other catalytic processes. In particular, the action of the metallocene catalyst appears to result in the production of a polymer product having a narrow molecular weight distribution and a structure that embodies a high proportion of head-to-tail monomer unit addition (ie, can be considered as a substantially ideal polymer) It is an effect. The literature on such materials also reports a more regular pattern of hydrocarbon side chains with fewer short side chains than other methods. The result is a polymer with a more “perfect” structure and different properties.

  The present invention has found that such polyalphaolefins exhibit particular benefits when used as additives to enhance performance in transmission fluid compositions. As shown in the examples below, additive benefits from such polyalphaolefins are 4% or less, preferably 1-3%, optimally 2-3% by weight of the total transmission fluid composition. Seen by processing rate. Such processing rates correspond to typical additive processing rates in such liquids, such as the lubricating oil itself (often referred to as “raw oil”) or the raw oil blend components (these are the bulk of the lubricating base oil). It should not be confused with the use of synthetic polymers (with greater relative amounts of polymer incorporation to make up the volume).

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing a transmission fluid composition, the composition comprising:
(i) a lubricant or a blend of lubricants;
(ii) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives,
(iii) one or more polyalphaolefin compounds, each made by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of an alphaolefin feedstock, and
(iv) one or more detergent additives (at least one of which contains one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds, wherein at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is an alkaline earth metal salicylate or sulfonate compound) Is)
Consists of
The method consists of the following steps:
a) obtaining (by manufacture or otherwise) a lubricating oil free of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds made by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of an alpha olefin feedstock, or a blend of lubricating oils;
b) The following ingredients:
(b) (1) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives (ii),
(b) (2) a total amount of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) not exceeding 4% by weight of the transmission fluid composition, and
(b) (3) one or more detergent additives (iv)
Mixing with the lubricating oil or a blend of lubricating oils to obtain a transmission fluid composition.

In particular, the method of the present invention is used to produce automotive transmission fluids, particularly when the addition in step b) is used in a vehicle, as demonstrated by an increase in the fuel efficiency of the vehicle during operation. Improve the efficiency of power transmission provided by the resulting composition.
In a third aspect, the present invention includes the use of a transmission fluid composition identified in the first aspect or a transmission fluid composition obtained by the method of the second aspect in a transmission. An improved method is provided. In this aspect of the invention, the transmission is preferably a transmission for an automobile vehicle, and the improvement in energy efficiency is preferably an increase in fuel economy of the driving vehicle.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides an additive concentrate for transmission fluid, the concentrate comprising a suitable carrier liquid, (ii) a viscosity modifier, or a blend of viscosity modifiers, and (iii) a polyalphaolefin compound or a mixture of polyalphaolefin compounds made by metallocene-catalyzed polymerization of an alpha olefin feedstock, and (iv) one or more detergent additives (at least one of which is one or more alkaline earths). It includes metalloid detergent compound, comprising at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is an alkaline earth metal salicylates or sulfonate compound). The total amount of the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds present in the concentrate is 4% of the resulting transmission fluid composition after the concentrate is added to the transmission fluid at its specified treat rate. The amount is preferably such that the compound (iii) constitutes not more than mass%.

The invention is described in more detail below.
The transmission fluid composition comprises four essential elements (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).
These ingredients are
(i) a lubricant or a blend of lubricants;
(ii) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives,
(iii) one or more polyalphaolefin compounds made by metallocene-catalyzed polymerization of an alphaolefin feedstock, and
(iv) one or more detergent additives (at least one of which contains one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds, wherein at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is an alkaline earth metal salicylate or sulfonate compound) Is)
It is.

It is essential that the total amount of the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) in the transmission fluid composition does not exceed 4% by weight of the composition, regardless of the means of incorporation. Thus, in general, some or all of the minor amount of one or more polyalphaolefins (iii) in the composition of the first aspect may be incorporated into the lubricating oil, or the lubricating oil blend (i) by incorporation into the composition. It is possible in the practice of the invention that it may be introduced into However, the lubricating oil or lubricating oil blending component (i) itself does not contain such a polyalphaolefin (iii) and these essential compounds (iii) are instead separated in the method of preparation of the composition. A lubricating oil or blend of lubricating oils mixed into the composition by direct addition as an additive, or mixed with a viscosity modifier additive or a blend of viscosity modifier additives (ii) It is preferred to produce single additive concentrates prior to their addition to the. Also, the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) are mixed with one or more detergent additives (iv) prior to addition to the lubricating oil or blend of lubricating oils to form a single additive concentrate. May be.

Most additive benefits from such polyalphaolefins (iii) when used in accordance with the present invention are less than 4% by weight of the total transmission fluid composition, more preferably 1-3% by weight of the total transmission fluid composition. Optimally, it is seen at a treatment rate of 2 to 3% by mass.
The lubricating oil or lubricating oil blend (i) constitutes the bulk of the liquid composition. Oils useful in the present invention as lubricating oils or to make up lubricating oil blends are derived from natural lubricating oils, synthetic lubricating oils, and mixtures thereof. In general, with s a kinematic viscosity in the range of about 1mm ² / s (cSt) to about 100 mm ² / s at 100 ° C. according to the specification or quality of the transmission both natural lubricating oils and synthetic lubricating oils obtained solution Husband as will allo, typical application would need to have a viscosity ranging from about 2 mm ² / s at 100 ° C. oil each is (cSt) to about 8 mm ² / s.

Natural lubricating oils include animal oils, vegetable oils (eg, castor oil and lard oil), petroleum oils, mineral oils, and oils derived from coal or shale. A preferred natural lubricating oil is mineral oil.
Suitable mineral oils include all common mineral oil feedstocks. This includes oils whose chemical structure is naphthenic or paraffinic. Examples include oils purified by conventional methods using acids, alkalis, and clays or other agents such as aluminum chloride, or they include, for example, solvents such as phenol, sulfur dioxide, furfural, dichlorodiethyl ether. It may also be an extracted oil produced by solvent extraction by the like. They may be hydrotreated or hydrorefined, dewaxed by cooling or catalytic dewaxing methods, or hydrocracked. Mineral oil may be produced from crude natural sources, or may contain isomerized wax material or other refining process residues.

Typically, the mineral oil will have a kinematic viscosity at 100 ° C. from 2.0 mm ² / s (cSt) to 10.0 mm ² / s (cSt). Preferred mineral oils have a kinematic viscosity of 2~8mm ² / s (cSt), these mineral oils most preferably have a viscosity of 3~6mm ² / s (cSt) at 100 ° C..
Synthetic lubricating oils include hydrocarbon oils and halo-substituted hydrocarbon oils such as oligomerized olefins, polymerized olefins and copolymerized olefins [eg, polybutylene, polypropylene, propylene-isobutylene copolymers, chlorinated polylactenes, poly (1-hexene), Poly (1-octene), poly (1-decene, and the like, and mixtures thereof]; alkylbenzene [eg, dodecylbenzene, tetradecylbenzene, dinonylbenzene, di (2-ethylhexyl) benzene, etc.]; polyphenyl [eg, , Biphenyl, terphenyl, alkylated polyphenyl and the like]; and alkylated diphenyl ether and alkylated diphenyl sulfide, as well as derivatives, analogs and homologues thereof.
Preferred oils from this class of synthetic oils are Group IV feedstocks, i.e. hydrogenated oligomers of alpha olefins, especially oligomers of 1-decene, especially free radical processes, Ziegler catalysis, or cationic Friedel-Crafts catalysis. Polyalphaolefins (PAO), including those produced.
The polyalphaolefin typically has a viscosity in the range of 2 to 20 cSt at 100 ° C, preferably 4 to 8 cSt at 100 ° C. They may be, for example, branched or linear alpha olefin oligomers having from 2 to 16 carbon atoms, specific examples being polypropene, polyisobutene, poly-1-butene, poly-1-hexene. Poly-1-octene and poly-1-decene. Homopolymers, interpolymers and mixtures thereof are included.

However, as explained above, in the context of the present invention, a lubricating oil, or a plurality of lubricating oil blends (i), is further produced by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of polyalphaolefin (iii), an alpha olefin feedstock. It is important that such polyalphaolefins (iii) do not collectively contribute to more than 4% by weight of the total transmission fluid composition.
It is preferred that the lubricating oil or any one or more polyalphaolefins comprising the lubricating oil blend (i) is not produced by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of the alpha olefin feedstock.

Synthetic lubricating oils include alkylene oxide polymers, interpolymers, copolymers, and derivatives thereof (in this case, the terminal hydroxyl group was modified by esterification, etherification, or the like). This class of synthetic oils are polyoxyalkylene polymers prepared by polymerization of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide; alkyl ethers and aryl ethers of these polyoxyalkylene polymers (eg, methyl-polyisopropylene glycol ethers having an average molecular weight of 1000) , Diphenyl ethers of polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 1000-1500); and their mono- and poly-carboxylic acid esters (eg, tetraethylene glycol acetate, mixed C ₃ -C ₈ fatty acid esters, and C ₁₂ oxo acid diesters) ).
Another suitable class of synthetic lubricating oils are dicarboxylic acids (eg, phthalic acid, succinic acid, alkyl succinic acid and alkenyl succinic acid, maleic acid, azelaic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, linoleic acid And esters of various alcohols (eg, butyl alcohol, hexyl alcohol, dodecyl alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoether, propylene glycol, etc.) Including. Specific examples of these esters include dibutyl adipate, di (2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, di-n-hexyl fumarate, dioctyl sebacate, diisooctyl azelate, diisodecyl azelate, dioctyl phthalate, didecyl phthalate, Diacosyl sebacate, 2-ethylhexyl diester of linoleic acid dimer, and a complex ester produced by reacting 1 mol of sebacic acid with 2 mol of tetraethylene glycol and 2 mol of 2-ethylhexanoic acid Can be mentioned. A preferred type of oil from this class of synthetic oil is the adipic acid ester of a C ₄ -C ₁₂ alcohol.

Esters useful as synthetic lubricants are those made from C ₅ -C ₁₂ monocarboxylic acids and polyols and polyol ethers such as neopentyl glycol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, etc. Also mentioned.
The lubricating oil may be derived from refined oil, rerefined oil, or mixtures thereof. Unrefined oils are obtained directly from natural or synthetic sources (eg, coal, shale, or tar sand bitumen) without further purification or treatment. Examples of unrefined oils include shale oil obtained directly from retort operations, petroleum oil obtained directly from distillation, or ester oil obtained directly from an esterification process, each of which is not further processed thereafter. used. Refined oils are similar to unrefined oils except that the refined oil has been treated in one or more refinement steps to improve one or more properties. Suitable purification techniques include distillation, hydrotreating, dewaxing, solvent extraction, acid or base extraction, filtration, and percolation, all of which are known to those skilled in the art. Re-refined oil is obtained by treating the oil used in a manner similar to that used to obtain the refined oil. These rerefined oils are also known as reclaimed or reprocessed oils and are often further processed by techniques to remove spent additives and oil breakdown products.

Another class of suitable lubricating oils are those feedstocks produced from oligomerization of natural gas feedstocks or wax isomerization. Although these feedstocks may be referred to in several ways, they are commonly known as gas-to-liquid (GTL) or Fischer-Tropsch feedstocks.
Lubricant (i) may be a blend of one or more of the above oils, and blends of natural and synthetic lubricants (ie, partial synthesis) are expressly included in the present invention.
A viscosity modifier, or a blend of viscosity modifiers (ii), can modify its viscosity when added to a lubricating oil to make its viscosity profile more advantageous for lubricant function It may be a single compound or a blend of multiple compounds. Typically, the lubricating oil experiences a range of operating temperatures within the device being lubricated and the viscosity is a temperature dependent characteristic, and therefore maintains a suitable viscosity over a range of operating temperatures. As a result, the oil will not be too viscous (“rich”) to produce a viscous drag in the equipment at lower temperatures, or thin to provide adequate lubrication at higher temperatures. Only. Viscosity modifiers typically have the property of increasing the viscosity of the oil at higher temperatures, thus offsetting the natural dilution of the lubricant stock and not substantially contributing to the viscous drug. It has less (or no) thickening effect at lower temperatures. In addition, preferred viscosity modifiers exhibit greater resistance to loss of activity over time when exposed to shear forces and other degrading effects that automotive lubricants experience during harsh operation.

Viscosity modifiers, or blends of viscosity modifiers, suitable for use as component (ii) of the present invention, thus, in its broadest aspect, are inherent in the lubricating oil (or blend of lubricating oils). Any viscosity modifier that can reduce the temperature dependent change in viscosity. However, in the practice of the present invention, we have combined a combination of components (i), (iii) and (iv) with certain classes of viscosity modifiers to give the transmission fluid composition the benefits of the present invention. It was found to be particularly suitable.
Thus, the viscosity modifier, or blend of viscosity modifiers (ii) is preferably a polymer or blend of polymers derived from one or more olefins or unsaturated ester monomers, more preferably one or more olefins. Derived from monomers, or one or more α, β-unsaturated ester monomers such as alkyl acrylate and alkyl methacrylate, or one or more olefins and one or more α, β-unsaturated ester monomers such as alkyl acrylate and alkyl methacrylate Polymer or a blend of polymers.

Viscosity modifiers or blends of viscosity modifiers (ii) include the following groups:
(ii) (a) random or block poly-alkyl acrylate or poly-alkyl methacrylate, or copolymers thereof,
(ii) (b) a star polymer comprising a polyvalent core of polyalkyl acrylate or polyalkyl methacrylate, from which multiple arms are subordinate, the arms comprising alkyl acrylate ester monomer units or alkyl methacrylate ester monomer units Polymer chain), or
(ii) (c) a polymer selected from one or more comb polymers prepared by copolymerization of one or more alkyl acrylate monomers or alkyl methacrylate monomers and one or more olefin or polyolefin monomers, or a blend of a plurality of polymers. Most preferred.
The materials in group (ii) (a) are prepared by polymerization of one or more alkyl acrylate monomers or alkyl methacrylate monomers using techniques known in the art, for example, radical polymerization, wherein the alkyl group is preferably Contains 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Such materials are known in the art and are commercially available, an example being VISCOPLEX® 12-075 supplied by Evonik Romax USA.
The substance in group (ii) (b) is one or more alkyl acrylate monomers or alkyl methacrylate monomers (the alkyl group preferably containing from 1 to 30, more preferably from 1 to 20 carbon atoms) Is prepared by stepwise polymerization of the core portion from and subsequent polymerization with such monomers to produce pendant arms. Suitable methods include atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Also, the arms can be generated separately and can be bound to the core by reaction at the position of the linking group. Such materials are known in the art.

The substances in group (ii) (c) are most conveniently prepared by radical polymerization. The term “comb” is known in the polymer industry and refers to a comb-like artifact of a polymer having a series of side chains subordinate to the main chain, these side chains being alkyl acrylate monomer units or alkyl methacrylate monomer units. Of alkyl substituents, or residues of olefin monomers, or both.
When the comb polymer (ii) (c) is prepared from one or more alkyl acrylate monomers or alkyl methacrylate monomers, it is preferably prepared by radical polymerization with one or more alkyl acrylate monomers or alkyl methacrylate monomers (whose alkyl chain is 4-20). Preferably, it is produced by polymerization of (including carbon atoms).
When the comb polymer (ii) (c) is prepared from one or more olefin monomers or polyolefin monomers, it is produced by polymerization of one or more olefin monomers containing 4 to 20, for example 4 to 12 carbon atoms. It is preferable. It may also be prepared from one or more polyolefin macromonomers that provide significant sized alkyl or alkenyl groups, which form the side chains of the resulting comb polymer structure.

  More preferably, the comb polymer (ii) (c) is prepared by copolymerization of one or more alkyl acrylate monomers or alkyl methacrylate monomers and one or more olefin monomers or polyolefin monomers. In such a polymer, the main chain is formed of a copolymerizable (meth) acrylate and an olefin monomer unit or a polyolefin monomer unit, and an alkyl ester group of the (meth) acrylate unit and a residue of the olefin or polyolefin are obtained. Depends on the chain to form a comb structure. In such a structure, it is preferred that the alkyl group of the alkyl acrylate monomer or alkyl methacrylate monomer contains 4 to 20, for example, 8 to 18 carbon atoms, while the comonomer provides a copolymer with a longer dependent chain. Preferred are olefins or polyolefins to be provided, such as long chain alpha-olefins or polyolefin macromonomers, such as poly (isobutylene) or hydrogenated poly (butadiene). Further olefinically unsaturated comonomers such as styrene or α, β unsaturated esters may be used in the preparation. When present in a lubricating oil, such polymers can expand significantly when energy is applied (eg, as occurs when the oil heats up during operation), and this thermal expansion behavior is Allows a large amount of oil to be entrained in a structured comb-structured liquid network, otherwise it counteracts the oil viscosity dilution typically caused by elevated temperatures. Such materials are described in, for example, SAE Int. Fuels Lubr., Volume 1, Issue 1, 1511 and numbered 2008-0102462 by Stoehr, Eisenberg and Mueller “Comb polymer based high performance. SAE paper entitled “New Generation of Viscosity Modifiers” and US Patent Application No. 2010/0190671, which describes their properties and preparation.

The one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) are due to metallocene catalyzed polymerization of the alphaolefin feedstock. Such “mPAO” materials are known per se in the art and are described, for example, in US Patent Application No. 2007/145924, along with their methods of metallocene catalysis. In this document they are described as lubricant feedstock components and are mainly used to make high viscosity feedstock blends. They are available to those skilled in the art as, for example, the product “Spectrosyn Elite ^™ ” from ExxonMobil Chemical and its regional sales affiliates. Disclosed in the industry on the date of filing at: http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com/Chem-English/brands/spectrasyn-elite-mpao.aspx?In=productsservices. The performance benefits of Spectrosyn Elite ^™ as a lubricant feedstock are described in the literature as shear stability, viscosity index for high and low temperature performance, and increased flow in cold environments. The document also explains that the use of metallocene catalysis in the production of mPAO results in a special molecular structure in the polymer product.

In the present invention, the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) are a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives (ii) and one or more specific detergent additives (iv). In combination, it is used in the amount of additive in the transmission fluid composition to improve the energy efficiency of the transmission utilizing the fluid. The metallocene polyalphaolefin (iii) having properties particularly suitable for the practice of the present invention may be produced from a feedstock comprising one or more, preferably two or more, linear C ₆ -C ₁₈ alpha olefins. Preferred polyalphaolefins (iii) are those made from C6 linear feed mixture of alpha olefin and C18 linear alpha olefins or C ₆ mixture of alpha-olefins and C ₁₂ alpha-olefins. The feedstock is typically contacted with an activated metallocene catalyst under polymerization conditions known in the art to yield compound (iii).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in the following examples, the invention uses Spectrosyn Elite ^™ 150 as the polyalphaolefin (iii). This material is commercially available from the above sources according to published specifications and has a typical dynamics of 156 mm ² / s as measured by ASTM D445 with a pour point of minus 33 ° C as measured by ASTM D5950 / D97. Viscosity (at 100 ° C.) and a typical viscosity index of 206 as measured by ASTM D2270.
In addition to the requisite amount of essential metallocene derived polyalphaolefin (iii), the composition of the present invention may further comprise other polyalphaolefins, depending on the additive (iv).

  The present invention relates to a transmission fluid composition having improved power transmission characteristics. Other less preferred types of power transmission fluids that fall within the scope of the present invention are gear oils, hydraulic fluids, tractor fluids, universal tractor fluids and the like. In particular, the present invention provides a transmission fluid for an automobile vehicle whose use is increased to the extent that the fuel efficiency of the driving vehicle can be demonstrated. Thus, the transmission fluid composition of the present invention is an automotive transmission fluid, such as an automatic transmission fluid (hereinafter “AFT”), a continuously variable transmission fluid (“CVTF”), or a double clutch transmission fluid (“DCTF”). Preferably there is.

Such a liquid is formulated with a detergent additive (iv) to satisfy various performance requirements and / or specifications for a given application, particularly automotive applications. In this specification, the term “ detergent additive” refers to an additive comprising one or more detergent compounds and optionally other compounds (“components”) that function as additives to enhance performance for transmission fluids. Used to represent. Such detergent additives are sometimes known in the art as detergent packages or detergent-inhibitor packages, and may include various other components and mutually compatible solvents or dispersion media.
These other components include additional detergents , dispersants, antiwear agents, corrosion inhibitors, extreme pressure additives, and the like. They are typically disclosed, for example, in CV Smallheer and R. Kennedy Smith “Lubricant Additives”, 1967, pages 1-11 and US Pat. No. 4,105,571.
Typical amounts of typical components of additive (iv) in automotive transmission fluid are summarized as follows.

It is essential that at least one additive (iv) comprises one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds, the at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound being an alkaline earth metal salicylate or sulfonate compound. Yes, and as described above, provides further improvements in the energy efficiency of the resulting liquid.
Essential detergents commonly used in the present invention are exemplified by oil-soluble neutral or overbased salts of alkaline earth metals and one or more hydrocarbyl-substituted sulfonic acids or salicylic acids. Preferred salts of such acids from the standpoint of cost effectiveness, toxicology and environment are calcium and magnesium salts. Preferred salts useful for the present invention are neutral or overbased salicylates of calcium or magnesium.
Oil-soluble neutral metal-containing detergents are detergents that contain a stoichiometric equivalent amount of metal with respect to the amount of acidic moieties present in the detergent . Thus, generally neutral detergents will have a low basicity when compared to their overbased counterparts.

The term “overbasing” with respect to metal detergents is used to indicate metal salts in which the metal is present in a stoichiometrically greater amount than the organic group. A commonly used method for preparing overbased salts is to use a mineral oil solution of acid in a stoichiometric excess of a metal neutralizing agent, such as a metal oxide, hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate, or Heating with sulfide at a temperature of about 50 ° C. involves filtering the resulting product. The use of “accelerators” during the neutralization process to aid in the uptake of large excess metals is likewise known. Examples of compounds useful as accelerators include phenolic materials such as phenol, naphthol, alkylphenols, thiophenols, sulfurized alkylphenols, and condensation products of formaldehyde and phenolic materials; alcohols such as methanol, 2-propanol, octanol , Cellosolv alcohol, carbitol alcohol, ethylene glycol, stearyl alcohol, and cyclohexyl alcohol; and amines such as aniline, phenylenediamine, phenothiazine, phenyl-β-naphthylamine, and dodecylamine. A particularly effective method for preparing the basic salt is to mix the acid with an excess of basic alkaline earth metal neutralizer and at least one alcohol promoter, and the mixture at an elevated temperature, eg, 60 ° C to 200 ° C. Including carbonation.

Examples of suitable metal-containing detergents are neutral and overbased salts of calcium sulfonate and magnesium sulfonate (each sulfonic acid moiety is an aromatic nucleus, one in order to confer hydrocarbon solubility). Including the above aliphatic substituents), and calcium salicylate and magnesium salicylate (the aromatic portion of which is usually substituted with one or more aliphatic substituents to impart hydrocarbon solubility). Mixtures of neutral or overbased salts of two or more different alkaline earth metals can be used, as well as neutral and / or overbased salts of a mixture of two or more different acids (eg, one The above overbased calcium salicylates and one or more overbased calcium sulfonates) may also be used.
As is known, overbased metal detergents are generally considered to contain an overbased amount of inorganic base, possibly in the form of a microdispersion or colloidal suspension. Thus, the term is the "oil-soluble" applies to metal detergents necessarily completely in the strict sense of the term, or true not oil soluble metal detergent may contain (inorganic base is present) is intended ing. This is because such detergents behave very much as if they were fully and completely dissolved in the oil when mixed with the base oil.
Methods for producing these oil-soluble neutral alkaline earth metal-containing detergents and overbased alkaline earth metal-containing detergents are known to those skilled in the art and have been extensively reported in the patent literature.

The metal detergent utilized in the present invention may be an oil soluble neutral and / or overbased alkali metal or alkaline earth metal containing detergent , if desired. Methods for preparing metal boride detergents are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 3,480,548, 3,679,584, 3,829,381, 3,909,691, 4,965,003, and 4,965,004.
Preferred metal detergents for use according to the invention are calcium sulfonate and / or magnesium sulfonate and calcium salicylate and / or magnesium salicylate. It is preferred that at least one such alkaline earth metal detergent compound is a calcium salicylate or calcium sulfonate compound. An amount such that the total amount of one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds present in the transmission fluid composition provides the transmission fluid composition with an alkaline earth metal content of 50 to 250 ppm by weight per mass of the transmission fluid composition. It is preferable that

More preferably, each alkaline earth metal detergent compound present in the transmission fluid composition is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound. It has been found that salicylate compounds are particularly advantageous in combination with the additives (ii) and (iii) described herein and contribute to the fuel efficiency benefits of the present invention.
Most preferably, each alkaline earth metal detergent compound present in the transmission fluid composition is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound, and the total amount of one or more calcium salicylate compounds present is the transmission fluid composition. It has been found that it provides an amount of calcium in the transmission fluid composition of 50 to 250 ppm by weight per mass of this and this amount provides the optimum efficiency increase.
Dispersants, particularly those characterized as ashless dispersants, are also useful as components of additive (iv) in the present invention. Suitable dispersants include long chain (ie, greater than 40 carbon atoms) substituted hydrocarbyl succinimide and hydrocarbyl succinamide, long chain (ie, greater than 40 carbon atoms) hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acid mixed ester / amide, Such hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic hydroxy esters, as well as Mannich condensation products of long chain (ie, greater than 40 carbon atoms) hydrocarbyl-substituted phenols, formaldehyde and polyamines. Mixtures of such dispersants can also be used.

  A preferred dispersant is a long chain alkenyl succinimide. These include acyclic hydrocarbyl substituted succinimides formed with various amines or amine derivatives as widely disclosed in the patent literature. Also suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention is the use of an alkenyl succinimide treated with an inorganic acid of phosphorus (or its anhydride) and a bolating agent. This is because they are highly compatible with elastomeric seals made from materials such as fluoroelastomers and silicon-containing elastomers. A polyisobutenyl succinimide formed from polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride and an alkylene polyamine, for example, triethylenetetramine or tetraethylenepentamine (with a polyisobutenyl substituent of 500 to 5000 (preferably 800 to 2500) in the number average molecular weight. Particularly preferred are those derived from polyisobutenes). The dispersant may be post-treated with a number of reagents known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 3,254,025, 3,502,677 and 4,857,214).

Antiwear additives useful in the present invention as a component in additive (iv) are typically oil-soluble phosphorus-containing compounds (which may vary widely in the context of the present invention and are limited by chemical type). Is not). The only limitation is that the material is oil soluble so as to allow dispersion and transport of phosphorus-containing compounds within the lubricating oil system to the site of action. Examples of suitable phosphorus compounds are phosphites and thiophosphites (these mono-alkyl analogs, di-alkyl analogs, tri-alkyl analogs and partially hydrolyzed analogs); phosphates and thiophosphates; inorganic phosphorus such as , Amines treated with phosphorous acid, phosphoric acid or their thio analogs; zinc dithiodiphosphates; amine phosphates. Examples of particularly suitable phosphorus compounds include: mono-n-butyl-hydrogen-acid-phosphite; di-n-butyl-hydrogen phosphite; triphenyl phosphite; triphenylthiophosphite; tri-n-butyl phosphate; Dimethyl octadecenyl phosphonate; 900 MW polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride (PIBSA) polyamine dispersant post-treated with H ₃ PO ₃ and H ₃ BO ₃ (see, eg, US Pat. No. 4,857,214); zinc (di- 2-ethylhexyl dithiophosphate).

Preferred oil-soluble phosphorus compounds are esters of phosphoric acid and phosphorous acid. These materials will include di-alkyl, tri-alkyl and tri-aryl phosphites and phosphates. Preferred oil-soluble phosphorus compounds are mixed thioalkyl phosphite esters such as those prepared in US Pat. No. 5,314,633, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The phosphorus compounds of the present invention can be used in oils in any effective amount. However, a typical effective concentration of such compounds would be an amount that delivers about 5 ppm to about 5000 ppm phosphorus to the oil. The preferred concentration range is about 10 ppm to about 1000 ppm phosphorus in the finished oil, with the most preferred concentration range being about 50 ppm to about 500 ppm.
A preferred friction modifier useful as a component in additive (iv) comprises the reaction product of an isomerized alkenyl-substituted succinic anhydride and a polyamine characterized by structure (I), where structure (I) is: is there.

Where x and y are independent integers, the sum of which is from 1 to 30, and z is an integer from 1 to 10.
The starting compounds for producing the compounds of structure (I) are isomerized alkenyl succinic anhydrides, which are maleic anhydride and internal olefins, i.e. olefins that are not terminally unsaturated and therefore do not contain: Prepared from

  These internal olefins can be introduced directly into the reaction mixture or they can be generated in situ by exposing the alpha-olefin to an isomerization catalyst at elevated temperatures. A method for producing such materials is described in US Pat. No. 3,382,172. The isomerized alkenyl-substituted succinic anhydride has a structure shown as the structure (II), and the structure (II) is represented by the following formula.

Preferred succinic anhydrides are produced from the isomerization of linear alpha-olefins with an acid catalyst followed by reaction with maleic anhydride. Preferred alpha-olefins are 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicosane, or mixtures of these materials. The products described can also be produced from the same 8-20 carbon internal olefins. Preferred materials for the present invention are those made from 1-tetradecene (x + y = 9), 1-hexadecene (x + y = 11) and 1-octadecene (x + y = 13), or mixtures thereof.
The isomerized alkenyl succinic anhydride is then reacted with a polyamine of structure (III), where structure (III) is represented by the following formula:

In the formula, z is an integer of 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 3.
These are ordinary polyethylene amines. When Z is 1, the material is diethylenetriamine, when z is 2, the material is triethylenetetramine, and when z is 3, the material is tetraethylenepentamine and z is 3 For larger products, these products are commonly referred to as “polyamines” or PAM. Preferred products of the present invention use diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine or mixtures thereof.

Isomerized alkenyl succinic anhydride (II) is typically reacted with an amine in a 2: 1 molar ratio, so that both primary amines are converted to succinimide. Occasionally, a slight excess of isomerized alkenyl succinic anhydride (II) is used to ensure that all primary amines have reacted. The product of the reaction is shown as structure (I).
The di-succinimide of structure (I) may be further worked up by a number of techniques known in the art. These techniques may include, but are not limited to, boriding, maleating, acid treatment with inorganic acids such as phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, and sulfuric acid. Descriptions of these methods can be found, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 3,254,025, 3,502,677, 4,686,054, and 4,857,214.
Other useful derivatives of these preferred friction modifiers are those in which the isomerized alkenyl groups of structures (I) and (II) are hydrogenated to produce their saturated alkyl analogs. These saturated versions of structures (I) and (II) may likewise be post-treated as described above.
Any effective amount of the compound of structure (I) and its derivatives may be used in the additive (iv) of the present invention, but typically these effective amounts are 0.5-10% by weight of the finished liquid, preferably Will range from 2% to 7% by weight, most preferably from 3% to 6% by weight.
The various selected ingredients of additive (iv) of the present invention may be combined in the form of a concentrate. Typically, the active ingredient (ai) level of the concentrate is from 20% to 90%, preferably from 25% to 80%, most preferably from 35% to 75% by weight of the concentrate. Would be in the range. The balance of the concentrate is typically a diluent or diluent containing a solvent.

The method of the present invention provides for the manufacture of a transmission fluid composition, the composition comprising:
(v) a lubricant or a blend of lubricants;
(vi) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives,
(vii) one or more polyalphaolefin compounds, each made by metallocene-catalyzed polymerization of an alphaolefin feedstock, and
(viii) one or more detergent additives (at least one of which contains one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds, wherein at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is an alkaline earth metal salicylate or sulfonate compound) Is)
Consists of
The method consists of the following steps:
a) obtaining (by manufacture or otherwise) a lubricating oil free of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds made by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of an alpha olefin feedstock, or a blend of lubricating oils;
b) The following ingredients:
(b) (1) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives (ii),
(b) (2) a total amount of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) not exceeding 4% by weight of the transmission fluid composition, and
(b) (3) one or more detergent additives (iv)
Mixing with the lubricating oil or blend of lubricating oils to obtain a transmission fluid composition.

The resulting composition is preferably an automotive transmission fluid, and the power transmission provided by the composition when used as an automotive transmission fluid, as the addition in step b) is demonstrated by an increase in the fuel efficiency of the driving vehicle. It is further preferable to improve the efficiency.
In that method, one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) are mixed with one or more detergent additives (iv) to give a single additive concentrate prior to addition to the lubricating oil or blend of lubricating oils. Is preferably generated.
In that method, the total amount of the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) mixed with the lubricating oil or blend of lubricating oils is preferably in the range of 2-3% by weight of the transmission fluid composition.
Also in the method, it is preferred that each alkaline earth metal detergent compound to be mixed with the transmission fluid composition is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound. One or more calcium salicylate compounds mixed with a lubricating oil or blend of lubricating oils when each alkaline earth metal detergent compound mixed with the transmission fluid composition is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound More preferably, the total amount of is such that the transmission fluid composition has a calcium content of 50 ppm to 250 ppm by weight per mass of the transmission fluid composition.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for improving the energy efficiency of a transmission comprising the transmission fluid composition identified in the first aspect or the transmission fluid composition obtained by the method of the second aspect therein. To do.
In this method, it is preferred that the transmission is a transmission for an automobile vehicle and the improvement in energy efficiency is an increase in fuel economy of the vehicle in operation.
Furthermore, the present invention provides an additive concentrate for transmission fluid, the concentrate comprising a suitable carrier liquid, (ii) a viscosity modifier, or a blend of viscosity modifiers, and (iii) alpha A polyalphaolefin compound or a mixture of polyalphaolefin compounds made by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of an olefin feedstock, and (iv) one or more detergent additives (at least one of which is one or more alkaline earth metal detergents) And at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is an alkaline earth metal salicylate or sulfonate compound),

The total amount of the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) present in the concentrate is not more than 4% by weight of the resulting transmission fluid composition after the concentrate is added to the transmission fluid at that specific treatment rate. The amount is such that the compound (iii) constitutes.
In the additive concentrate, the total amount of the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) in the composition is preferably in the range of 2-3% by weight of the composition.
Also, in the additive concentrate, it is preferred that each alkaline earth metal detergent compound present in the concentrate is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound.
Other preferred aspects for each of components (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) in the process aspect and concentrate aspect of the present invention have been described above with respect to the composition of the first aspect. It is as follows.

  The following examples are presented as specific illustrations of the claimed invention. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown in the examples. All parts and percentages are by weight per weight of the resulting transmission fluid composition, unless otherwise specified.

Example 1 Benefits of Additive Treatment Levels of Polyalphaolefin (iii) The Essential Metallocene Derivative Polyalphaolefin Essentiality of the Present Invention Load Return Tests Performed on Transmission Fluids Present and Not Present To demonstrate.
Four automotive transmission fluids were prepared by blending together the ingredients shown in Table 1 according to the process aspect of the present invention. In each case, components (i), (ii), (iv) are the same and the liquid is chemically different only in the presence or absence of polyalphaolefin (iii).
Table 1

In these compositions, the base lubricating oil, viscosity modifier, pour point depressant and detergent additive are the same in each case, the blend is the relative proportions of these ingredients and compositions 1C and 2C In this case, only the absence of mPAO was different.
m Polyalphaolefin was Spectrosyn Elite ^™ 150, a product from ExxonMobil Chemical. Detergent additives include overbased calcium salicylate and other minor active ingredients typical of dispersant, antiwear and detergent additive packages combined with small amounts of base oil and diluent. Contains ingredients. These other components of the detergent additive were the same in each case. Viscosity modifiers are commercially available from Evonik Romax USA, Inc. VISCOPLEX® 12-199 which falls within class (ii) (c) described above for suitable viscosity modifiers. Met. Pour point depressants were typical commercial materials and were the same in each case.

The performance of these compositions was tested in the following two experiments.
A bench test experiment, referred to as the “FE-8” test, measures the torque required to rotate a radial thrust roller bearing assembly lubricated by the transmission fluid. The effectiveness of the formulation was tested by measuring the torque to rotate the cylindrical roller bearing under various conditions using a FE-8 radial thrust roller bearing tester. The bearing used was a 15-roll FAG / INA 81212 bearing. The bearing was installed in a test rig and then preloaded to 60 kN. Run for 20 hours at 500 ° C and 100 ° C before measuring the bearings.
For each test liquid, the test head is heated until the bearing temperature reaches 40 ° C. While maintaining this temperature, the bearing is rotated at 10 rpm for 10 minutes and then at 100 and 500 rpm for 5 minutes respectively. The reported torque at each condition is calculated by averaging the torque readings during the last minute of that condition. The temperature is then raised to 80 ° C. and then finally raised to 120 ° C., and the torque is measured in the same manner at three speeds. After this, the rig is cooled to room temperature and the entire process is repeated. The final test result is the average of two replicates at each temperature and speed.
Thus, the FE-8 test compares the energy requirements needed to obtain a specific bearing rotation with different liquids. Obtaining a specific rotation with a lower applied torque indicates greater energy efficiency within the mechanical system.

Vehicle test experiments were conducted according to standard US Federal Test Procedure 75 (“FTP75”). A commercial SUV with a 6-speed automatic transmission was repeatedly tested on the vehicle dynamometer according to the driving cycle specified in FTP75, and in each case based on the fuel economy improvements observed for the transmission fluid used in the test Report for liquid (as% improvement).
FTP75 provides a direct measure of fuel economy observed during vehicle operation. Positive% indicates greater fuel efficiency compared to the standard.
In the FE-8 test, liquid compositions 1, 1C and 2C were compared for energy efficiency. The results are shown in Table 2 below.
Table 2

As can be seen, composition 1 consistently requires lower applied torque to obtain 100 rpm and 500 rpm rotation in the FE-8 test, composition 1C (and 2C) (no polyalphaolefin (iii)) As compared to Composition 1 (containing 2.5% polyalphaolefin (iii)). In this screener test, the presence of polyalphaolefin (iii) represents an overall energy efficiency benefit.
In particular, comparative samples were blended to have similar kinematic viscosity behavior, thus eliminating the possibility of viscosity differences accounting for the measured torque differences. Comparison of the results for Compositions 1C and 2C further demonstrates that the small residual difference in KV values for these samples does not account for the difference in torque seen between Composition 1 and Composition 1C. Must be attributed to the effect of polyalphaolefin (iii). For example, composition 2C had a KV 100 of 4.69, approximately the same as KV 100 of composition 1 (4.77), but at 120 ° C. the torque result for composition 2C was greater than the result for composition 1C. High, indicating that the better results obtained for composition 1 cannot be explained by reference to the viscosity behavior itself.
In the FTP75 vehicle test, composition 1 (2.5% polyalphaolefin (iii)) was tested as a test reference liquid (no polyalphaolefin (iii)) and composition 2 (4% higher throughput polyalphaolefin). Compared with (iii)). The percent improvement in fuel economy over the entire test was 0.86% for Composition 1 and compared to only 0.42% for Composition 2. Thus, the fuel efficiency benefit of polyalphaolefin (iii) in the composition is optimal at a treat rate of 2.5%, with a higher treat rate of 4%, the fuel efficiency benefit is significantly reduced and the benefit seen is polyalphaolefin It was confirmed that this was due to the additive level ratio of (iii).

Example 2 Benefits of Specific Detergent (iv) The fuel efficiency effect of a specified special detergent (iv) in the present invention is demonstrated by further comparative tests.
Three additional automotive transmission fluids were prepared according to the process aspect of the present invention by blending together the ingredients shown in Table 3. These fluids were tested in the FTP75 vehicle test with Composition 1 from Table 1 to compare the detergent effect on fuel efficiency in the formulations of the present invention.
Table 3

Note: In these formulations, the amount of diluent in the detergent additive is adjusted to offset changes in salicylate or sulfonate levels, and this change is recorded in the “other ingredients” table. Reflected in slight changes in the amount of.
Vehicle test experiments were again performed on a vehicle dynamometer using the same commercially available SUV with a 6-speed automatic transmission, according to standard US Federal Test Procedure 75 (“FTP75”). In each case, the fuel economy improvement observed for the transmission fluid used in the test is reported again (as a percentage improvement) relative to the reference fluid.
Composition 1 (from previous Example 1, calcium salicylate present up to 100 ppm calcium treatment) showed a fuel economy improvement over the 0.86% total FTP75 test. Composition 3 (higher calcium salicylate treat rate, 140 ppm calcium) shows a significantly greater improvement of 1.47%, while a further increase in calcium salicylate up to a treat rate of 200 ppm calcium (Composition 4) is fuel economy. Conversely, the sex result was reduced to 0.49%. Thus, the optimal effect is seen with calcium around 140 ppm and the response is diminished on both sides of this treatment rate.
Test for Composition 5 (equivalent to Composition 1 except that calcium salicylate was replaced with calcium sulfonate until the same calcium treatment at 100 ppm) was 0.42% lower FTP75 fuel compared to 0.86% for Composition 1 Shows economic benefits. Thus, while both the sulfonate example and the salicylate example have gained beneficial fuel economy benefits over the reference liquid, the salicylate example shows a greater benefit at the same treat rate and the sulfonate salt Against the performance advantages of salicylate.

Example 3-Comparison with existing feedstock approaches existing in the industry This level of fuel efficiency improvement is achieved with additive levels of specific polyalphaolefin (iii), detergent additive (iv) and viscosity modifier (ii) The ability of the invention was compared to the prior art PAO feedstock approach described in US-A-2010 / 0035778 referred to earlier.
US-A-2010 / 0035778 (GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.) adds up to a total of 22.6% by weight of the composition together with proprietary additives including additive package Hitec® 3491 plus viscosity index improver and ester , 9.4% (mass basis, based on total liquid mass) of the first polyalphaolefin (PAO 2cSt) and 68.0% of the second polyalphaolefin (PAO 6cSt). That document claims fuel economy benefits for such compositions.

The performance of composition 1 of the present invention is commercially available with the same reported PAO composition as the example composition from US-A-2010 / 0035778, and also a total additive content of 22.6% (Hitec 3041A). The resulting GM automatic transmission fluid (GM ATF 212-B) was compared. Therefore, the applicant regards this as an illustration of the invention exemplified in US-A-2010 / 0035778.
The performance of Composition 1 in the FTP75 test was observed as a 0.86% fuel economy improvement over all tests. In contrast, the GM ATF 212-B sample showed a 0.12% improvement in fuel economy over the same reference fuel in the same test. Thus, Composition 1 exhibited substantially better fuel economy than the invention described in US-A-2010 / 0035778.
US-A-2010 / 0035778 teaches a fuel economy solution that requires a blend of two PAOs of different viscosities as a feedstock for transmission fluids. As shown by the previous results, a greater improvement in fuel economy was surprisingly found from the compositions of the present invention, with only a small amount (additive amount) of specific mPAO (iii) in combination with other essential ingredients. Can be obtained by using

Claims (14)

(i) a lubricant or a blend of lubricants;
(ii) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives,
(iii) one or more polyalphaolefin compounds, and
(iv) one or more detergent additives (at least one of which contains one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds)
A transmission fluid composition comprising:
The polyalphaolefin compound or each polyalphaolefin compound (iii) is made by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of an alpha olefin feedstock, and the total amount of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) in the transmission fluid composition is A transmission fluid composition characterized in that it does not exceed 4% by weight of the product and the at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound .   The transmission fluid composition according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) in the composition is in the range of 2-3% by weight of the composition. Alkaline earth metal detergents each compound present in the transmission fluid composition is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound, according to claim 1 or 2 transmission fluid according.   Each alkaline earth metal detergent compound present in the transmission fluid composition is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound, and the total amount of one or more calcium salicylate compounds present is per mass of the transmission fluid composition, 4. A transmission fluid composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in an amount that provides the transmission fluid composition with a calcium content of 50-250 ppm by weight. A method for producing a transmission fluid composition, the composition comprising:
(i) a lubricant or a blend of lubricants;
(ii) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives,
(iii) one or more polyalphaolefin compounds, each produced by metallocene-catalyzed polymerization of an alphaolefin feedstock, and
(iv) one or more detergent additives, at least one of which comprises one or more alkaline earth metal detergent compounds, wherein the at least one alkaline earth metal detergent compound is neutral or overbased calcium salicylate Consisting of a detergent additive that is a compound ,
The following steps:
a) obtaining (by manufacturing or other means) a lubricating oil or a blend of lubricating oils free of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds made by metallocene catalyzed polymerization of an alpha olefin feedstock; and
b) The following ingredients:
(b) (1) a viscosity modifier additive, or a blend of a plurality of viscosity modifier additives (ii),
(b) (2) a total amount of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) not exceeding 4% by weight of the transmission fluid composition, and
(b) (3) one or more detergent additives (iv)
Mixing the lubricating oil or a blend of lubricating oils to obtain a transmission fluid composition.   6. The method of claim 5, wherein the total amount of the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) mixed with the lubricating oil or blend of lubricating oils is in the range of 2-3% by weight of the transmission fluid composition. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein each alkaline earth metal detergent compound mixed with the transmission fluid composition is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound. One or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) are mixed with one or more detergent additives (iv) to form a single additive concentrate prior to addition to a lubricating oil or blend of lubricating oils The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7.   A method for improving the energy efficiency of a transmission, wherein the transmission fluid composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or the transmission fluid composition obtained by the method according to any one of claims 5 to 8 is contained in the transmission. A method comprising: using in a method.   The method of claim 9, wherein the transmission is a transmission for an automobile vehicle, and the improvement in energy efficiency is an increase in fuel economy of the driving vehicle. Additive concentrate for transmission fluid, formed by a suitable carrier liquid, (ii) a viscosity modifier, or a blend of viscosity modifiers, and (iii) metallocene catalyzed polymerization of alpha olefin feedstock A mixture of a plurality of polyalphaolefin compounds made by metallocene-catalyzed polymerization of the produced polyalphaolefin compound or alphaolefin feedstock , and (iv) one or more detergent additives, at least one of which is one or more comprises an alkali-earth metal detergent compound, at least one detergent additive alkaline earth metal detergent compound is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compounds, it consisting of the additive concentrate according to claim. Transmission fluid composition obtained after the total amount of one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) present in the concentrate is added to the transmission fluid in a concentrate: transmission fluid mass ratio of 1: n. The additive concentrate according to claim 11 , which is used for diluting n + 1 times in an amount such that the compound (iii) constitutes 4% by mass or less of the product. 13. The additive concentrate according to claim 11 or 12, wherein each alkaline earth metal detergent additive present in the concentrate is a neutral or overbased calcium salicylate compound. The total amount of the one or more polyalphaolefin compounds (iii) in the concentrate is such that after the concentrate is added to the transmission fluid in a concentrate: transmission fluid mass ratio 1: n , The additive concentrate according to any one of claims 11 to 13 , which is used for diluting n + 1 times in an amount such that the compound (iii) constitutes 2 to 3% by mass.