Abstract New ethylene-propylene copolymer oils containing 29-71 mol percent ethylene, the rest being at least substantially entirely propylene, said oils being of high viscosity index, low pour point, and high stability, are produced from monoolefin mixtures containing ethylene and propylene employing specified vanadiumaluminum or titanium-aluminum Ziegler-type catalyst systems. Hydrogen under pressure is used with the vanadium-aluminum catalyst system to control molecular weight. Oils of lubricating oil viscosity can be produced directly, or after cracking higher molecular weight oil, said cracking usually, but not necessarily, followed by hydrogenating. Dewaxing can be employed to reduce pour point. Oil fractions have similar desirable lubricating oil properties as the overall copolymer oil.
An ethylene-propylene copolymer oil according to claim 1 and having a maximum decrease in KV100 of 25 percent when subjected to the thermal stability test set forth in military specification MIL-H-27601A (USAF).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
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An ethylene-propylene copolymer oil according to claim 2 and having a maximum decrease in KV210 of 5 percent when subjected to sonic shear test in accordance with the Herein Modified ASTM Proposed Method of Test for Shear Stability of Polymer-Containing Oils.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The copolymer oil of claim 1 containing 40-60 mol percent ethylene, the rest being substantially entirely propylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The copolymer oil of claim 1 containing 40-50 mol percent ethylene, the rest being entirely propylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The copolymer oil of claim 2 having a KV210 of 2-10 cs.