Verfahren zur Herstellung synthetischer Schmierstoffe

Polymeric lubricating oils comprising a mixture of normally liquid and normally solid polymers are obtained by polymerising a C6-C16 alpha-olefin in two stages, the first being effected for 1 minute to 2 hours in the presence of a titanium halide and AlRnX3-n in which R is hydrocarbyl, X is hydrogen or halogen and n is 1, 2 or 3, in amounts such that the Ti:Al atomic ratio is 1:1-20 whereby normally solid polymer is formed and in the second adding titanium halide to the mixture to bring the Ti:Al ratio to 2-20:1 and polymerising for a further 1-16 hours to produce liquid polymers; the product is preferably hydrogenated. Polymerization is effected in each stage at 40-200 DEG F. preferably in the presence of a saturated or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an amount of 20-80% by volume of the total mixture of solvent and monomer; the total amount of catalyst, after addition of the further titanium halide, may be 1-10% by weight of the monomer. The catalyst is destroyed with water, an alcohol or dilute aqueous acid. Diluent and preferably dimer are removed by distillation and hydrogenation is effected at 1,000-10,000 p.s.i.g.; and 350-450 DEG F. in the presence of nickel/kieselguhr or platinum dioxide. Exemplified olefins are decene-1, and hexadecene-1.ALSO:Polymeric lubricating oils comprising a mixture of normally liquid and normally solid polymers are obtained by polymerizing a C6-C16 alpha-olefin in two stages, the first being effected for 1 minute to 2 hours in the presence of a titanium halide and AIRnX3-n in which R is hydrocarbyl, X is hydrogen or halogen and n is 1, 2 or 3, in amounts such that the Ti:Al atomic ratio is 1:1-20 whereby normally solid polymer is formed and in the second adding titanium halide to the mixture to bring the Ti:Al ratio to 2-20:1 and polymerizing for a further 1-16 hours to produce liquid polymers; the product is preferably hydrogenated. Polymerization is effected in each stage at 40-200 DEG F. preferably in the presence of a saturated or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an amount of 20-80% by volume of the total mixture of solvent and monomer; the total amount of catalyst, after addition of the further titanium halide, may be 1-10% by weight of the monomer. The catalyst is destroyed with water, an alcohol or dilute aqueous acid. Diluent and preferably dimer are removed by distillation and hydrogenation is effected at 1000-10,000 p.s.i.g.; and 350-450 DEG F. in the presence of nickel/kieselguhr or platinum dioxide.