Lube Oil Blending and Use of Polymers as Additive PDF

Keywords

petroleum, polymers, viscosity index

Abstract

Heavy petroleum fractions can be mixed with neutrals to give blends having somewhat higher viscosity index than the arithmetical mean of the initial stocks. But the use of polymeric materials so-called viscosity index improves yields far higher viscosity index values. In this study, it was observed that polymethacrylate is more effective as an oil viscosity index improver than ethylene-propylene copolymer. Alkylated polystyrene is also suitable for use as a viscosity index improver for lubricating oils. As the degree of alkylation increases, the polymer becomes more soluble in oil, consequently the viscosity index improving performance of the polymer increases.