Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of oxidatively degrading an olefinic polymer, which comprises oxidizing the olefinic polymer in an inert solvent in the absence of molecular oxygen and in the presence of an oxidant mixture of at least one peroxide and at least one hydroperoxide, said oxidant mixture being present in an amount sufficient to effect molecular weight degradation and the mole ratio of peroxide to hydroperoxide being in the range from 3.2 to 1 to 0.4 to 1, whereby an oxidised polymer product is obtained.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of oxidatively degrading an olefinic polymer, which comprises oxidizing the olefinic polymer in an inert solvent in the absence of molecular oxygen and in the presence of an oxidant mixture of at least one peroxide and at least one hydroperoxide, said oxidant mixture being present in an amount sufficient to effect molecular weight degradation and the mole ratio of peroxide to hydroperoxide being in the range from 3.2 to 1 to 0.4 to 1, whereby an oxidised polymer product is obtained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 1, wherein the olefinic polymer is a copolymer of ethylene and a C 3 -C 8 alpha-olefin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to Claim 2, wherein the olefinic polymer is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to Claim 1, wherein the olefinic polymer is a terpolymer of ethylene, a C 3 -C 8 alpha-olefin and a non-conjugated acyclic or alicyclic diolefin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to Claim 4, wherein the olefinic polymer is a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and 1,4-hexadiene.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
40 words
A method according to any preceding claim, whrein the oxidizing reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range from 60 to 250°C and under a pressure of from 0 to 1,000 psig (1 to 70.3 kg/cm 2 ).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
28 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the oxidant mixture is present in an amount of from 1 to 20% by weight, based on the olefinic polymer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
39 words
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the hydroperoxide in said oxidant mixture is hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, or 2,5-dihydroperoxy-2,5-dimethylhexane, and the peroxide in said oxidant mixture is dicumyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, or dilauryl peroxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to Claim 8, wherein the oxidant mixture comprises hydrogen peroxide and dicumyl peroxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to Claim 8, wherein the oxidant mixture comprises cumene hydroperoxide and dicumyl peroxide.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
28 words
A method according to any preceding clim and further comprising reacting the oxidised polymer product with an organic amine containing at least one primary or secondary amino group.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
28 words
A method according to any preceding clim and further comprising reacting the oxidised polymer product with an organic amine containing at least one primary or secondary amino group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to Claim 11, wherein the organic amine is a polyalkylene polyamine having the general formula: H 2 N(CH 2 CHR 1 NH) x H wherein each R is hydrogen or a C 1 to C 6 alkyl group and x is an integer in the range of from 1 to 10.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to Claim 12, wherein the amine is ethylene diamine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
An oxidised polymer product obtained by the method claimed in any preceding claim.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A lubricating oil composition comprising an oil of lubricating viscosity and, as a viscosity index improvement agent, an oxidised polymer product as claimed in Claim 14.