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Title: Low Molecular Weight Polymethacrylates as Multi-Functional Lubricant Additives

Journal Article · · European Polymer Journal
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Energy and Environment Directorate
  2. Univ. of California, Merced, CA (United States). School of Engineering
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Energy and Environment Directorate; Univ. of California, Merced, CA (United States). School of Engineering

In this study, low molecular weight, moderately polar polymethacrylate polymers are explored as potential multi-functional lubricant additives. The performance of these novel additives in base oil is evaluated in terms of their viscosity index, shear stability, and friction-and-wear. The new compounds are compared to two benchmarks, a typical polymeric viscosity modifier and a fully-formulated oil. Results show that the best performing of the new polymers exhibit viscosity index and friction comparable to that of both benchmarks, far superior shear stability to either benchmark (as much as 15x lower shear loss), and wear reduction significantly better than a typical viscosity modifier (lower wear volume by a factor of 2-3). The findings also suggest that the polarity and molecular weight of the polymers affect their performance which suggests future synthetic strategies may enable this new class of additives to replace multiple additives in typical lubricant formulations.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V); US Army Research Office (ARO); Afton Chemical Corp., Richmond, VA (United States); Evonik Industries, Essen (Germany)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830; VT0604000- D8132; W911NF1610549
OSTI ID:
1434654
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-129102; PII: S0014305717323273
Journal Information:
European Polymer Journal, Vol. 104; ISSN 0014-3057
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 19 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

Facile synthesis and applications of polypropylene/polydimethylsiloxane graft copolymer journal February 2019
Molecular design and shear stability correlations of dendritic polymethacrylates journal January 2019
Review of Viscosity Modifier Lubricant Additives journal March 2018
Film Forming Capability of Polymer-Base Oil Lubricants in Elastohydrodynamic and Very Thin Film Regimes journal April 2019

Figures / Tables (10)