Lubricant base oils with optimized branching

Abstract

The present invention relates to lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components having optimized branching. These lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components with optimized branching have low amounts of branching overall with the branching concentrated toward the center of the lubricant base oil molecules. The present invention also relates to processes of producing these lubricant base oils from waxy feeds and commercial finished lubricants comprising these lubricant base oils.

1 . A lubricant base oil comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which the extent of branching is less than 8 alkyl branches per 100 carbons and less than 20 wt % of the alkyl branches are at the 2 position; the lubricant base oil having a pour point of less than −8° C.; a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of about 3.2 cSt or greater; and a Viscosity Index greater than a Target Viscosity Index as calculated by the following equation:  
         Target Viscosity Index=22 ×ln (Kinematic Viscosity at 100° C.)+132.  
     
     
         2 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which the extent of branching is less than 7 alkyl branches per 100 carbons.  
     
     
         3 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which the extent of branching is less than 6.5 alkyl branches per 100 carbons.  
     
     
         4 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which less than 25 wt % of the alkyl branches are at the two plus three positions.  
     
     
         5 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which greater than 50 wt % of the alkyl branches are at the five or greater positions.  
     
     
         6 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the Viscosity Index is greater than the Target Viscosity Index plus five.  
     
     
         7 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which less than 15 wt % of the alkyl branches are at the two position.  
     
     
         8 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which less than 20 wt % of the alkyl branches are at the two plus three positions.  
     
     
         9 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which greater than 60 wt % of said alkyl branches are at the five or greater positions.  
     
     
         10 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , further comprising a total naphthene content of less than about 5 wt %.  
     
     
         11 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil is derived from a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process.  
     
     
         12 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which the extent of branching, as measured by the percentage of methyl hydrocarbons (BI), and the proximity of branching, as measured by the percentage of recurring methylene carbons which are four or more carbons removed from an end group or branch (CH 2 >4), are such that BI-0.5(CH 2 >4)<12.  
     
     
         13 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which the extent of branching, as measured by the percentage of methyl hydrocarbons (BI), and the proximity of branching, as measured by the percentage of recurring methylene carbons which are four or more carbons removed from an end group or branch (CH 2 >4), are such that BI-0.5(CH 2 >4)<10.  
     
     
         14 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil has a Free Carbon Index of greater than about 3.  
     
     
         15 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 11 , wherein the lubricant base oil comprises a sulfur content of less than about 5 ppm.  
     
     
         16 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil has an Oxidator BN value of greater than 25 hours.  
     
     
         17 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional base oil selected from the group consisting of conventional Group I base oils, conventional Group II base oils, conventional Group III base oils, isomerized petroleum wax, polyalphaolefins, poly internal olefins, diesters, polyol esters, phosphate esters, alkylated aromatics, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The lubricant base oil comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components of  claim 1 , wherein the extent of branching is less than 2.5 alkyl branches per molecule.  
     
     
         19 . The lubricant base oil comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components of  claim 1 , wherein the extent of branching is less than 2.0 alkyl branches per molecule.  
     
     
         20 . The lubricant base oil comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil has a pour point of less than −9° C.  
     
     
         21 . The lubricant base oil comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant base oil has a pour point of ≦−15° C.  
     
     
         22 . A lubricant base oil comprising 
 a pour point of less than −8° C.;    a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of greater than 3.2 cSt; and    a Viscosity Index greater than a Target Viscosity Index as calculated by the following equation:      Target Viscosity Index=22 ×ln (Kinematic Viscosity at 100° C.)+132.    
     
     
         23 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 22 , wherein the lubricant base oil has a pour point of less than −9° C.  
     
     
         24 . The lubricant base oil of  claim 22 , wherein the lubricant base oil has a pour point of less than ≦−15° C.  
     
     
         25 . A finished lubricant comprising: 
 the lubricant base oil of  claim 1;  and    one or more lubricant additives.    
     
     
         26 . The finished lubricant of  claim 25 , further comprising an additional base oil selected from the group consisting of conventional Group I base oils, conventional Group II base oils, conventional Group III base oils, isomerized petroleum wax, polyalphaolefins, poly internal olefins, diesters, polyol esters, phosphate esters, alkylated aromatics, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . A finished lubricant comprising 
 the lubricant base oil of  claim 22;  and    one or more lubricant additives.    
     
     
         28 . The finished lubricant of  claim 27 , further comprising an additional base oil selected from the group consisting of conventional Group I base oils, conventional Group II base oils, conventional Group III base oils, isomerized petroleum wax, polyalphaolefins, poly internal olefins, diesters, polyol esters, phosphate esters, alkylated aromatics, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         29 . An intermediate oil isomerate comprising Fischer-Tropsch derived paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which the extent of branching is less than 7 alkyl branches per 100 carbons.  
     
     
         30 . The intermediate oil isomerate of  claim 29 , wherein the intermediate oil isomerate comprises paraffinic hydrocarbon components in which the extent of branching is less than 6.5 alkyl branches per 100 carbons.