Flat viscosity fluids and lubricating oils based on liquid crystal base stocks

Abstract

wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl or alkoxy group having from 0 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —OCOO—, —COO—, —CO—, —CSO—, —CSS—, —CS—, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2-, —CH2O—, —OCH2O—, —NO—, —ONO2, —COOH, —OH, or —C≡N; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 28 cSt at 40° C., and 1 cSt to 12 cSt at 100° C.

1 . A lubricant base stock comprising one or more liquid crystals, wherein the one or more liquid crystals are represented by the formula:
   R1-(A) m -Y—(B) n —R2
   wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl or alkoxy group having from about 0 to about 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —OCOO—, —COO—, —CO—, —CSO—, —CSS—, —CS—, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 O—, —NO—, —ONO 2 , COOH, OH, or —C≡N; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3; and   wherein the lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 28 cSt at 40° C. and a kinematic viscosity of 1 cSt to 12 cSt at 100° C., as determined according to ASTM D445.   
     
     
         2 . The lubricant base stock of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals are represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The lubricant base stock of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals are selected from the group consisting of 4-((1s, 4r)-4-pentylcyclohexyl)benzonitrile, 4-pentylphenyl 4-(octylocy)benzoate 4-(hexyloxy)phenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-pentylphenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-(hexyloxy)phenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-pentylphenyl 4-heptylbenzoate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The lubricant base stock of  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity index of the lubricating oil base stock is greater than 300 at 100° C. as determined according to ASTM D-2270. 
     
     
         5 . The lubricant base stock of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals undergo a liquid crystal phase change at a temperature between −50° C. and 150° C. as measured by Differential Scanning calorimetry. 
     
     
         6 . A lubricating oil comprising a lubricant base stock including one or more liquid crystals, wherein the one or more liquid crystals are represented by the formula:
   R1-(A) m -Y—(B) n —R2
   wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl or alkoxy group having from about 0 to about 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —OCOO—, —COO—, —CO—, —CSO—, —CSS—, —CS—, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 O—, —NO—, —ONO 2 , COOH, OH, or —C≡N; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3;   wherein the lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 28 cSt at 40° C. and a kinematic viscosity of 1 cSt to 12 cSt at 100° C., as determined according to ASTM D445; and   optionally one or more viscosity modifiers.   
     
     
         7 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals are represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals are selected from the group consisting of 4-((1s, 4r)-4-pentylcyclohexyl)benzonitrile, 4-pentylphenyl 4-(octylocy)benzoate 4-(hexyloxy)phenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-pentylphenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-(hexyloxy)phenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-pentylphenyl 4-heptylbenzoate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the viscosity index of the lubricating oil base stock is greater than 300 at 100° C. as determined according to ASTM D-2270. 
     
     
         10 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals undergo a liquid crystal phase change at a temperature between −50° C. and 150° C. as measured by Differential Scanning calorimetry. 
     
     
         11 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the lubricant base stock comprises a major amount of the lubricating oil and the optional one or more viscosity modifiers comprises a minor amount of the lubricating oil. 
     
     
         12 . The lubricating oil of  claim 11 , wherein the lubricant base stock comprises from 50 to 99 wt % of the lubricating oil and the one or more viscosity modifiers comprises from 0.1 to 20 wt % of the lubricating oil. 
     
     
         13 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the viscosity modifier comprises a polymer thickening agent. 
     
     
         14 . The lubricating oil of  claim 13 , wherein the polymer thickening agent is selected form the group consisting of copolymers of ethylene and propylene, hydrogenated block copolymers of styrene and isoprene, polyacrylates and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The lubricating oil of  claim 12  further including from 1 to 45 wt % of a lubricant co-base stock, wherein the co-base stock is selected from the from the group consisting of a Group I base stock, a Group II base stock, a Group III base stock, a Group IV base stock, a Group V base stock and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The lubricating oil of  claim 12  further including from 0.1 to 30 wt % of one or more other lubricating oil additives selected from the group consisting of an anti-wear additive, viscosity index improver, antioxidant, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, corrosion inhibitor, metal deactivator, seal compatibility additive, anti-foam agent, inhibitor, anti-rust additive, and friction modifier. 
     
     
         17 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the lubricating oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100 deg. C. ranging from 4.5 to 12.5 cSt. 
     
     
         18 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the viscosity index of the lubricating oil is greater than 200 at 100° C. as determined according to ASTM D-2270. 
     
     
         19 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein lubricating oil is an SAE viscosity grade selected from the group consisting of 0W-30, 5W-30, 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-16, 5W-16, 0W-12, 5W-12, 0W-8, and 5W-8. 
     
     
         20 . The lubricating oil of  claim 6 , wherein the lubricating oil is a passenger vehicle engine oil (PVEO) or a commercial vehicle engine oil (CVEO). 
     
     
         21 . A method for improving viscosity temperature performance or viscosity index of a lubricating oil used in an engine or other mechanical component comprising the steps of:
 providing a lubricating oil as a formulated oil to an engine or other mechanical component, said formulated oil having a composition comprising at least one lubricating oil base stock including one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula:
   R1-(A) m -Y—(B) n —R2
 
   wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl or alkoxy group having from about 0 to about 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group;   Y is a covalent bond, —CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —OCOO—, —COO—, —CO—, —CSO—, —CSS—, —CS—, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 O—, —NO—, —ONO 2 , COOH, OH or —C≡N; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3; wherein the lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 28 cSt at 40° C. and a kinematic viscosity of 1 cSt to 12 cSt at 100° C., as determined according to ASTM D445; and   optionally one or more viscosity modifiers; and   measuring viscosity temperature performance or viscosity index of the engine or other mechanical component lubricated with the lubricating oil; and   wherein the viscosity temperature performance or viscosity index is improved as compared to viscosity temperature performance or viscosity index achieved using a comparable lubricating oil not including the lubricating oil base stock comprising the one or more liquid crystals.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals are represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals are selected from the group consisting of 4-((1s,4r)-4-pentylcyclohexyl)benzonitrile, 4-pentylphenyl 4-(octylocy)benzoate 4-(hexyloxy)phenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-pentylphenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-(hexyloxy)phenyl 4-(heptyloxy)benzoate, 4-pentylphenyl 4-heptylbenzoate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the viscosity index of the lubricating oil base stock is greater than 300 at 100° C. as determined according to ASTM D-2270. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more liquid crystals undergo a liquid crystal phase change at a temperature between −50° C. and 150° C. as measured by Differential Scanning calorimetry. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lubricant base stock comprises a major amount of the lubricating oil and the optional one or more viscosity modifiers comprises a minor amount of the lubricating oil. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the lubricant base stock comprises from 50 to 99 wt % of the lubricating oil and the one or more viscosity modifiers comprises from 0.1 to 20 wt % of the lubricating oil. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the viscosity modifier comprises a polymer thickening agent. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the polymer thickening agent is selected form the group consisting of copolymers of ethylene and propylene, hydrogenated block copolymers of styrene and isoprene, polyacrylates and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  further including from 1 to 45 wt % of a lubricant co-base stock, wherein the co-base stock is selected from the from the group consisting of a Group I base stock, a Group II base stock, a Group III base stock, a Group IV base stock, a Group V base stock and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  further including from 0.1 to 30 wt % of one or more other lubricating oil additives selected from the group consisting of an anti-wear additive, viscosity index improver, antioxidant, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, corrosion inhibitor, metal deactivator, seal compatibility additive, anti-foam agent, inhibitor, anti-rust additive, and friction modifier. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lubricating oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100 deg. C. ranging from 4.5 to 12.5 cSt. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the viscosity index of the lubricating oil is greater than 200 at 100° C. as determined according to ASTM D-2270. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein lubricating oil is an SAE viscosity grade selected from the group consisting of 0W-30, 5W-30, 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-16, 5W-16, 0W-12, 5W-12, 0W-8, and 5W-8. 
     
     
         35 . The method oil of  claim 21 , wherein the lubricating oil is a passenger vehicle engine oil (PVEO) or a commercial vehicle engine oil (CVEO). 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the other mechanical component is selected from the group consisting of an electric vehicle component, power train, a driveline, a transmission, a gear, a gear train, a gear set, a compressor, a pump, a hydraulic system, a bearing, a bushing, a turbine, a piston, a piston ring, a cylinder liner, a cylinder, a cam, a tappet, a lifter, a gear, a valve, or a bearing including a journal, a roller, a tapered, a needle, and a ball bearing.