Fuel oil compositions with improved cold flow properties

Abstract

The use is described of polymers which contain, in copolymerized form, an α-olefin, a vinyl ester and an ester of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid as an additive for fuel oils and lubricants and in particular as a cold flow improver in fuel oils. In addition, the fuel oils and lubricants additized with these polymers; and also additive packages comprising such polymers are described.

1 . The use of a polymer which contains, in copolymerized form, an α-olefin, a vinyl ester and an ester of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid as an additive for fuel oils and lubricants.  
   
   
       2 . The use according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer contains the vinyl ester and the ester of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymerized in random distribution.  
   
   
       3 . The use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer is composed of monomers including M1, M2 and M3 and wherein M1, M2 and M3 have the following general formulae:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       where  
       R 1  is H or C 1 -C 40 -hydrocarbyl;  
       R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are each independently H or C 1 -C 4 -alkyl;  
       R 5  is C 1 -C 20 -hydrocarbyl;  
       R 6 , R 7  and R 8  are each independently H or C 1 -C 4 -alkyl; and  
       R 9  is C 1 -C 20 -hydrocarbyl.  
     
   
   
       4 . The use according to  claim 3 , wherein the monomers M1, M2 and M3 are present in the polymer in the following molar proportions: 
 M1: from 0.60 to 0.98    M2: from 0.01 to 0.20    M3: from 0.01 to 0.20.    
   
   
       5 . The use according to either of claims  3  and  4 , wherein monomer M1 is ethylene.  
   
   
       6 . The use according to any of  claims 3  to  5 , wherein R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are each H or two of the R 2 , R 3  and R 4  radicals are each H and the other radical is methyl.  
   
   
       7 . The use according to any of  claims 3  to  6 , wherein R 5  is C 1 -C 9 -hydrocarbyl.  
   
   
       8 . The use according to  claim 7 , wherein R 5  is n-butyl or 2-ethylhexyl.  
   
   
       9 . The use according to any of  claims 6  to  8 , wherein M2 is n-butyl acrylate or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.  
   
   
       10 . The use according to any of  claims 3  to  9 , wherein M3 is vinyl acetate.  
   
   
       11 . The use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer is used as a cold flow improver.  
   
   
       12 . A fuel oil composition comprising a major proportion by weight of a middle distillate fuel boiling in the range of 120-500° C. and a small proportion by weight of at least one polymer as defined in any of  claims 1  to  11 .  
   
   
       13 . The fuel oil composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the fuel component comprises biodiesel (from animal or vegetable production) in proportions of 0-100% by weight.  
   
   
       14 . The fuel oil composition according to  claim 12 , selected from diesel fuels, kerosene and heating oil.  
   
   
       15 . The fuel oil composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the diesel fuel is obtainable by refining, coal gasification or gas liquefaction, or is a mixture of such products and is optionally mixed with renewable fuels.  
   
   
       16 . The fuel oil composition according to any of  claims 12  to  15 , wherein the sulfur content of the mixture is at most 500 ppm.  
   
   
       17 . A lubricant composition comprising a major proportion by weight of a conventional lubricant and a minor proportion by weight of at least one polymer as defined in any of  claims 1  to  10 .  
   
   
       18 . The use or composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer is used in combination with further conventional cold flow improvers and/or further lubricant and fuel oil additives.  
   
   
       19 . An additive package comprising at least one polymer as defined in any of  claims 1  to  10  in combination with at least one further conventional lubricant or fuel oil additive.