Gobinda Karmakar

Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Polymer – Used as a Pour Point Depressant for Lubricating Oil

Additives based on polymers of alkyl methacrylate used in lubricant composition improve the viscometric and rheological properties of the lubricant and provide fuel economy. They are also looked upon to provide additional performance characteristics such as improved low temperature fluidity, dispersancy and thickening. However, the recent demand for eco-friendly technology guided us to incorporate the sunflower chemistry into the acrylate skeleton through the process of copolymerization in anticipation of getting an ideal blend of performance as well as eco-friendly chemistry. The present investigation comprises the homo and copolymerization of sunflower oil with different mass fraction of methyl methcrylate (MMA), decyl acrylate (DA) and styrene, characterizations and their evaluations as a pour point depressant in base oils.

Evaluation of sunflower oil as a multifunctional lubricating oil additive

The function of additives is either to enhance an already-existing property of the base fluid or to add a new property. Viscosity index improvers, antifoaming agents, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, and pour point depressants are examples of different kinds of additives. Most of the present day additives are synthetic acrylate based. But with increasing environmental awareness, the research in the area towards the synthesis of multifunctional biodegradable lubricating oil additive is increasing day by day. Hence, in our present work chemistry of biodegradable multifunctional lubricating oil additive based on vegetable oil (sunflower oil) has been investigated. In the present work solvent-free synthesis of homopolymer of sunflower oil was performed by two different ways; microwave irradiation method and thermal method using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. Characterization of the polymers was done by spectral (NMR, IR), GPC and viscometric analysis and finally performance evaluation was tested by standard ASTM methods. Performance evaluation as pour point depressant, viscosity modifier or viscosity index improver and antiwear in different base oils (BO1, BO2) was carried out by standard ASTM methods. Shear stability and oil thickening property of the polymers have also been investigated and reported here. Thermal stability of the polymers was determined by thermogravimetric analysis. A comparison of their performances has also been reported. The additive prepared by microwave-assisted method showed better viscosity index and pour point values as compared to thermally prepared additive. Thus, polymerized sunflower oil may be used as a potential biodegradable lube oil additive and hence the microwave-assisted protocol may be considered as a cost-effective greener approach for synthesis of lube oil additive.

Dodecyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate copolymers as viscosity modifier and pour point depressant for lubricating oil

The article presents application of homo polymer of dodecyl methacrylate (DDMA) and its copolymers with vinyl acetate (VA) as multifunctional additives for lubricant formulation. Homo polymer of DDMA and five copolymers of DDMA with VA at different molar ratios were synthesized by free radical polymerization method using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The characterization of the polymers was carried out through FTIR, NMR and GPC (gel permeable chromatography) analysis. The performance of all the polymers as viscosity index improver (VII) or viscosity modifier and pour point depressant (PPD) additive in two different base oils (mineral) were evaluated. The mechanism of action of the polymers as pour point depressant was studied by photo micrographic analysis. Rheological study of the formulated lubricant was also carried out and reported. The thermal stability of the polymers was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that thermal stability, VI and molecular weights of copolymers are higher than the homopolymer which showed better PPD property.

Castor oil as potential multifunctional additive in the formulation of eco-friendly lubricant

The article investigates the performance of polymers prepared from castor oil and dodecyl acrylate as biodegradable multifunctional additive in the formulation of eco-friendly lubricant. Homopolymer of castor oil and its copolymers with dodecyl acrylate (DA) at different percentage ratios (w/w) were synthesized using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator without any solvent. The polymers were characterized by spectral techniques (FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy). The molecular weight of all the prepared polymers was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The thermal stability of the polymers was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Performance evaluation of all the prepared polymers in SN150 mineral oil as viscosity index improver (VII), pour point depressant (PPD) and antiwear were carried out according to standard ASTM methods. The action mechanism of the additives as PPD was studied by photo micrographic image. Biodegradability of all the samples was tested through soil burial test (SBT).

Solvent Free Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Poly Myristyl Acrylate—Characterization and Evaluation as Additives for Lubricating Oil

Homopolymer of myristyl acrylate was prepared by microwave assisted free radical polymerization method using BZP as initiator with variation of time at a fixed power without any solvent. Characterization of the polymers was done by IR, NMR, and viscometric analysis. Additive performances of each of them (pour point depressant [PPD] and viscosity modifier [VM]) for lubricating oil (lube oil) were also evaluated by standard ASTM methods. A comparison of their performances has also been reported. The molecular weights of the polymers were determined from viscosity measurements in toluene at 313 K and thermal stability was measured by thermogravimetric analysis.

The Synthesis and Characterization of Homo Polymer of Acrylate of Mixed Alcohol and Their Performance as Additives for Lubricating Oils

Homopolymer of acrylate of a mixture of myristyl (C14), dodecyl (C12), and decyl (C10) alcohols in 2:1:1 molar ratio was synthesized by two different ways, microwave-assisted method and thermal method using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The polymers were characterized by spectroscopic (NMR, IR) and viscometric analysis. Performances of each of them as a pour point depressant and viscosity modifier for lubricating oil (lube oil) were also evaluated by standard ASTM methods. Oil thickening property of the polymers has also been investigated and reported here. Thermal stability of the polymers was determined by thermogravimetric analysis.

Synthesis and Characterization of Homo Polymer of Acrylate of Mixed Alcohols (Decyl, Dodecyl, and Myristyl Alcohol)—A Potential Pour Point Depressant for Lubricating Oils

Polymer of the acrylate of a mixture of three different alcohols, decyl alcohol, dodecyl alcohol, and myristyl alcohol, and the respective homopolymers, poly(decylacrylate), poly(dodecylacrylate), and poly(myristylacrylate), were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for their performances (oil thickening and pour point depression property) as lube oil additive. The viscosity measurements of the synthesized polymers in the toluene solution at 313 K were performed and compared.

Terpolymers based on sunflower oil/alkyl acrylate/styrene as sustainable lubricant additive

Five terpolymers consisting of an alkyl acrylate (octyl acrylate/decyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate), sunflower oil and styrene in different ratios (w/w) viz. 1:1:1, 2:1:1 and 3:1:1 were synthesized by free radical polymerization method using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator in toluene solvent. The polymers were characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. Molecular weight of the prepared polymers was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method. Thermal stability of the polymers was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Performance of the prepared polymers as viscosity modifier (VM), also known as viscosity index improver (VII), pour point depressant (PPD) and antiwear in different base oils were evaluated according to standard ASTM methods. Photo micrographic image were used to study the action mechanism of the additives as PPD. Biodegradability of all the polymers was tested through disc diffusion method. From the experimental results, it was observed that the ratio 2:1:1 is most effective for the preparation of terpolymers based on acrylate, sunflower oil and styrene. Moreover, it is also observed that efficiencies as VII and antiwear increase but PPD decrease with increasing the alkyl chain length of the prepared polymers.Graphical abstract