Optimization of Alkyl Methacrylate Terpolymer Properties as Lubricating Oil Rheology Modifier

Abstract

Solution terpolymerization processes of methyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, and octadecyl methacrylate using bifunctional 1,1-di(tert-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane or monofunctional tert-butylperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate initiator were investigated. The first set of terpolymerizations was performed in 2 M xylene solutions, isothermally at 91, 100, 105, and 115 °C. The terpolymerization kineticsconcentrations of molecular species, kinetic chain length, molar mass averages as functions of the reaction timewas modeled by the Villermaux−Blavier tendency kinetic model for radical polymerization. Complete monomer conversions and high molar masses of terpolymers were achieved in a simple batch process with bifunctional initiator. The second set of polymerization reactions was performed in 2 M mineral base oil solutions, under isothermal conditions at 115 and 120 °C, using the bifunctional initiator. By varying the monomer mixture composition and concentrations of the initiator and chain transfer agent, n-dodecyl mercaptan, the terpolymers of different composition and molar mass were obtained. The solution properties of alkyl methacrylate terpolymers as lubricating oil rheology modifierskinematic viscosity, viscosity index, shear stability, and pour pointwere established. A strong correlation between molar mass distribution of synthesized polymers and rheological properties of polymer solutions was revealed by an applied optimization procedure.