Polyamine Additives For Fuels and Lubricants

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of polyamines having at least one terminal secondary or tertiary amine function as a detergent additive for fuels and lubricants; to additive concentrates comprising such polyamines; to fuels and lubricants additized with these polyamines and to processes for their preparation.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A method for reducing carbonization of nozzles in diesel engines comprising adding a detergent additive to fuel wherein the detergent additive is a compound of the general formula (I):  
       R 1 R 2 N((CH 2 ) x NH) y (CH 2 ) z NR 3 R 4   (I)  where    R 1  and R 2  are each independently H or C 1 -C 10 -alkyl but neither R 1  and R 2  are simultaneously H; or R 1  and R 2  together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a C 4 -C 6 -dicarboximide ring which is substituted by at least one polyalkenyl radical R which has a number-average molecular weight Mn of from 100 to 2500; R 3  and R 4  are independently C 1 -C 10 -alkyl;    y is an integer from 1 to 100 and    x and z are independently an integer from 2 to 12.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the detergent additive of the formula I is added in an amount which brings about a maximum degree of carbonization of 80% determined to CEC F23 A 01 (in an XUD9 test engine at needle stroke 0.1 mm) via the percentage in air flow restriction.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the degree of carbonization is 0 to 65%.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the compound has the following general formula II  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       where x, y, z, R, R 3  and R 4  are each as defined in  claim 23 .  
     
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein R is a polyisobutenyl radical.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the polyisobutenyl radical has an Mn of from about 500 to 1000.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein x and z are each independently integer from 2 to 4 and y is 1, 2 or 3.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein R 3  and R 4  are each independently C 1 -C 4 -alkyl.  
   
   
       31 . The method according o  claim 23 , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  an R 4  are each independently C 1 -C 4 -alkyl.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the compound is an imide of the formula I obtainable by reacting a cyclic C 4 -C 6 -dicarboxylic anhydride which is substituted by at least one polyalkylene radical R which has a number-average molecular weight Mn of from 100 to 2500 with a polyamine of the formula III  
       H 2 N((CH 2 ) x NH) y (CH 2 ) z NR 3 R 4   (III)  where x, y, z, R 3  and R 4  are each as defined in  claim 23 , and removing volatile constituents of the reaction mixture if appropriate.    
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 32 , comp sing at least one compound of the formula II.  
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein at least one further conventional additive selected from the group consisting of detergent additives, carrier oils, corrosion inhibitors, frictional wear-reducing additives, cetane number improvers, demulsifiers, antifoams, solvents, solubilizers, antioxidants, metal deactivators, deodorants and old flow improvers other than compounds of the formula I, and mixtures comprising one or more of these additives is combined with the compound of general formula I.  
   
   
       35 . A fuel composition comprising, in a majority of a hydrocarbon fuel boiling in the range from 100 to 500° C., an effective amount of at least one detergent additive of the formula I as defined in  claim 23 .  
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the fuel comprises a middle distillate fuel.  
   
   
       37 . A lubricant composition comprising, in a customary lubricant, at least an effective amount of at least one detergent additive of the formula I as defined in  claim 23 .  
   
   
       38 . An additive concentrate comprising at least one detergent additive of the formula I as defined in  claim 23  in combination with at least one further customary fuel or lubricant additive.  
   
   
       39 . A process for preparing a diesel fuel composition for effecting a reduction of nozzle carbonization, comprising adding to a commercial diesel fuel composition an effective amount of at least one compound as defined in  claim 23 .  
   
   
       40 . A process for preparing a diesel fuel composition for effecting a reduction of nozzle carbonization comprising adding to a commercial diesel fuel composition an effective amount of the additive concentrate according to  claim 38.