6. Viscosity Modifiers. Viscosity modifiers (VM) and dispersant viscosity modifiers (DVM) are well known. Examples of VMs and DVMs are polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, polyolefins, styrene-maleic ester copolymers, and similar polymeric substances including homopolymers, copolymers and graft copolymers.

Examples of commercially available VMs, DVMs and their chemical types are listed below. The DVMs are designated by a (D) after their number.



Recent summaries of viscosity modifiers can be found in U.S. patents 5, 157,088, 5,256,752 and 5,395,539 which are herein incorporated) by reference for disclosure pertinent to this invention. The VMs and/or DVMs preferably are incorporated into the fully-formulated compositions at a level of up to 10% by weight.

7. Pour Point Depressants. These components are particularly useful to improve low temperature qualities of a lubricating oil. A preferred pour point depressant is an alkylnaphthalene. Pour point depressants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,880,553 and 4,753,745, which are incorporated herein by reference. PPDs are commonly applied to lubricating compositions to reduce viscosity measured at low temperatures and low rates of shear. The pour point depressants are preferably used in the range of 0.1-5 weight percent. Examples of tests used to assess low temperature low shear-rate rheology of lubricating fluids include ASTM D97 (pour point), ASTM D2983 (Brookfield viscosity), D4684 (Mini-rotary Viscometer) and D5133 (Scanning Brookfield).

Examples of commercially available pour point depressants and their chemical types are:



8. Detergents. Lubricating compositions in many cases also preferably include detergents. Detergents as used herein are preferably metal salts of organic acids. The organic acid portion of the detergent is preferably a sulphonate, carboxylate, phenate, salicylate. The metal portion of the detergent is preferably an alkali or alkaline earth metal. Preferred metals are sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Preferably, the detergents are overbased, meaning that there is a stoichiometric excess of metal over that needed to form the neutral metal salt.

Preferred overbased organic salts are the sulfonate salts having a substantially oleophilic character and which are formed from organic materials. Organic sulfonates are well known materials in the lubricant and detergent arts. The sulfonate compound should preferably contain on average from about 10 to about 40 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 12 to about 36 carbon atoms and most preferably from about 14 to about 32 carbon atoms on average. Similarly, the phenates, oxylates and carboxylates preferably have a substantially oleophilic character.

While the present invention allows for the carbon atoms to be either aromatic or in paraffinic configuration, it is highly preferred that alkylated aromatics be employed. While naphthalene based materials may be employed, the aromatic of choice is the benzene moiety.

The most preferred component is thus an overbased monosulfonated alkylated benzene, and is preferably the monoalkylated benzene. Preferably, alkyl benzene fractions are obtained from still bottom sources and are mono- or di-alkylated. It is believed, in the present invention, that the mono-alkylated aromatics are superior to the dialkylated aromatics in overall properties.

It is preferred that a mixture of mono-alkylated aromatics (benzene) be utilized to obtain the mono-alkylated salt (benzene sulfonate) in the present invention. The mixtures wherein a substantial portion of the composition contains polymers of propylene as the source of the alkyl groups assist in the solubility of the salt. The use of mono-functional (e.g., mono-sulfonated) materials avoids crosslinking of the molecules with less precipitation of the salt from the lubricant.

It is preferred that the salt be "overbased". By overbasing, it is meant that a stoichiometric excess of the metal be present over that required to neutralize the anion of the salt. The excess metal from overbasing has the effect of neutralizing acids which may build up in the lubricant. A second advantage is that the overbased salt increases the dynamic coefficient of friction. Preferably, the excess metal will be present over that which is required to neutralize the acids at about in the ratio of up to about 30:1, preferably 5:1 to 18:1 on an equivalent basis.

The amount of the overbased salt utilized in the composition is preferably from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percents on an oil free basis. The overbased salt is usually made up in about 50% oil with a TBN range of 10-600 on an oil free basis. Borated and non-borated overbased detergents are described in U.S Patents 5,403,501 and 4,792,410 which are herein incorporated by reference for disclosure pertinent hereto.

9. Antifoamant. Antifoaming agents are well-known in the art as silicone or fluorosilicone compositions. Such antifoam agents are available from Dow Corning Chemical Corporation and Union Carbide Corporation. A preferred fluorosilicone antifoam product is Dow FS-1265. Preferred silicone antifoam products are Dow Corning DC-200 and Union Carbide UC-L45. Other antifoam agents which may be included in the composition either alone or in admixture is a polyacrylate antifoamer available from Monsanto Polymer Products Co. of Nitro, West Virginia known as PC-1244. Also, a siloxane polyether copolymer antifoamer available from OSI Specialties, Inc. of Farmington Hills, Michigan and may also be included. One such material is sold as SILWET-L-7220. The antifoam products are preferably included in the compositions of this invention at a level of 5 to 80 parts per million with the active ingredient being on an oil-free basis.

The synergistic compositions may be incorporated in any lubricating media by known methods. The compositions impart antiwear and extreme pressure properties to natural and synthetic lubricants formulated as oils or greases.

The base oils employed as lubricant vehicles are typical natural and synthetic oils used in automotive and industrial applications such as, among others, turbine oils, hydraulic oils, gear oils, crankcase oils and diesel oils. Natural base oils include mineral oils, petroleum oils, paraffinic oils and the ecologically desirable vegetable oils. Typical synthetic oils include ester-type oils such as silicate esters and pentaerythritol esters, hydrogenated mineral oils, silicones and silanes.

The compositions of the invention may be incorporated in the lubricant in an amount effective to produce the desired antiwear characteristics. An amount from about 0.1 to 10.0 percent will be sufficient for most applications. A preferred range is from about 0.5 to about 3.0 percent by weight of the total lubricant composition.

The lubricating compositions may contain other conventional additives depending on the intended use of the lubricant.

The grease formulations may contain various thickening agents such as, among others, silicate minerals, metal soaps and organic polymers.

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