Polymers

Abstract

The present invention is a polymer having structural units, units of formula I, units of formula II and units of either formula IIIa or formula IIIb: The polymer improves the low-temperature properties of fuel oils from petroleum sources and especially from vegetable or animal sources.

1 . A polymer comprising structural units of formula I, structural units of formula II and structural units of either formula IIIa or formula IIIb: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  and R 2  are the same or different and each represent a C 8  to C 22  alkyl group, preferably a C 12  to C 16  alkyl group; wherein R 3  represents —OCOR 6 , —COOR 15 , —COOH, or a C 1  to C 22  alkyl group, preferably a C 1  to C 12  alkyl group, and R 6  represents a C 1  to C 22  alkyl group, preferably a C 1  to C 12  alkyl group; wherein R 4  is hydrogen, —COOH or —CH 2 COOR 16 ; wherein R 15  and R 16  are the same or different and each represent a C 8  to C 22  alkyl group, preferably a C 12  to C 16  alkyl group; wherein R 5  is hydrogen or methyl; wherein X represents a group of formula V or formula VI: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 9  is a C 1  to C 8  alkyl linkage, R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are the same or different and each represent hydrogen or a C 1  to C 8  alkyl group, p is an integer from 1 to 10, and q is zero or an integer from 1 to 10; and wherein Y represents a group of formula IV: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 7  represents hydrogen or a C 1  to C 8  alkyl group, R 8  represents a C 1  to C 8  alkyl group, m is an integer from 1 to 10, and n is an integer from 1 to 30, preferably from 5 to 20. 
     
     
         2 . A polymer according to  claim 1  wherein R 1  and R 2  are the same and each represent a linear C 12  to C 14  alkyl group. 
     
     
         3 . A polymer according to  claim 1  wherein R 3  represents —OCOR 6 . 
     
     
         4 . A polymer according to  claim 3  wherein R 6  is methyl or 2-ethylhexyl and R 4  is hydrogen. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A polymer according to  claim 1  wherein X represents a group of formula V. 
     
     
         8 . A polymer according to  claim 7  wherein R 9  is a C 2  alkyl linkage, R 10  and R 11  are both methyl and q is zero. 
     
     
         9 . A polymer according to  claim 1  wherein Y represents a group of formula IV where R 7  is hydrogen, R 8  is methyl, m is an integer from 1 to 6 and n is an integer from 6 to 18. 
     
     
         10 . A polymer according to  claim 1  further comprising structural units of formula VII, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 13  represents a C 8  to C 22  alkyl group, preferably a C 12  to C 16  alkyl group; and wherein R 14  is hydrogen or methyl. 
     
     
         11 . A polymer according to  claim 10  wherein R 13  represents a linear C 12  to C 16  alkyl group. 
     
     
         12 . A fuel oil composition comprising a major amount of a fuel oil and a minor amount of the polymer recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A fuel oil composition according to  claim 12  wherein the fuel oil contains fatty acid alkyl esters made from oils derived from animal or vegetable materials. 
     
     
         14 . An additive concentrate comprising the polymer recited in  claim 1  and a solvent.