Facile Synthesis of Functionalised Hyperbranched Polymers for Application as Novel, Low Viscosity Lubricant Formulation Components

Abstract

A novel, previously unreported, method for synthesising hyperbranched (HB) materials is detailed. Their use as additives to produce lubricant formulations that exhibit enhanced levels of wear protection and improved low-temperature oil viscosity and flow is also reported. The lubricant formulations containing HB additives were found to exhibit both significantly lower viscosities and improved in-use film-forming properties than the current industry standard formulations. To achieve this, alkyl methacrylate oligomers (predominantly dimers and trimers) were synthesised using catalytic chain transfer polymerisation. These were then used as functional chain transfer agents (CTA) to control the polymerisation of divinyl benzene (DVB) monomers to generate highly soluble, high polydispersity HB polymers. The level of dimer/trimer purification applied was varied to define its influence on both these HB resultant structures and the resultant HB additives’ performance as a lubricant additive. It was shown that, while the DVB acted as the backbone of the HB, the base oil solubility of the additive was imparted by the presence of the alkyl chains included in the structure via the use of the oligomeric CTAs.

Synthesis of Poly[(vinyl chloride)-co-(vinyl polydimethylsiloxane)] via Precipitation Polymerization and Its Lubrication Behavior in the PVC Matrix

“…On the other hand, the lubricant molecules formed a directional arrangement between the polymer melt and the metal mold cavity to play a supportive role in reducing the contact between the two so as to achieve the effect of external lubrication. 6 To date, the commercially used external lubricants are advanced fatty acids, fatty acid amides, and paraffin waxes, which can basically meet the requirements of current industrial production. However, the migration of smallmolecule additives and their compatibility with the polymer matrix put forward higher requirements for the development of external lubricants.…”

“…During the processing process, the external lubricant will migrate from the inside of the polymer to the surface and melt preferentially, forming a lubricating layer between the polymer and the metal mold cavity, thereby reducing the friction between the polymer melt and the molding equipment to prevent it from sticking to the mechanical surface. , This unique mechanism requires that the external lubricant have an amphiphilic molecular structure, a small number of polar groups, and nonpolar long fat chains. On the other hand, the lubricant molecules formed a directional arrangement between the polymer melt and the metal mold cavity to play a supportive role in reducing the contact between the two so as to achieve the effect of external lubrication . To date, the commercially used external lubricants are advanced fatty acids, fatty acid amides, and paraffin waxes, which can basically meet the requirements of current industrial production.…”

One-Pot Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polyurethane-Triazoles with Controlled Structural, Molecular Weight and Hydrodynamic Characteristics

“…The synthesis and investigation of new functional materials, such as highly and hyperbranched polymers has attracted considerable attention in the last few years [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Hyperbranched polymers with many functional end-groups are considered as promising materials for design of ecological flame-retardant polyurethanes [ 5 ], new catalytic systems [ 6 ], biomaterials [ 7 ], and other applications [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. They exhibit high solubility in common organic solvents and high thermodynamic compatibility with other polymers, low viscosity, and high sorption capacity.…”