Characterization and Apparent Kinetics of Polymerization of 1-Decene Catalyzed by Boron Trifluoride/Alcohol System

Poly-α-olefin (PAO) synthetic oil is the base oil of high-quality lubricants, and has a huge market potential. We illustrate PAO synthesis by catalytic polymerization of 1-decene with a boron trifluoride (BF3)/alcohol system. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis confirmed dimer, trimer and tetramer structures of PAO. Each component contained branched chains with a 1,2 insertion of a head-to-tail link; a 2,1 insertion of a tail-to-tail link and a methyl-containing linked structure. At a low conversion rate, the reaction rate was related directly with the reaction temperature and the catalyst/1-decene concentration. An apparent kinetic equation for PAO formation was determined during 1-decene polymerization.