Reduced Engine Deposits from Dispersant Treated with Copper

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention provides a lubricating composition containing a dispersant treated with copper to reduce the formation of high temperature insoluble solids formed during exposure of the composition to heat. The invention further relates to the use of the lubricating composition in an internal combustion engine. The invention further relates to a method of reducing insoluble deposits in an engine using said dispersant treated with copper and said lubricating composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is known that lubricants become less effective during their use due to exposure to the operating conditions of the device they are used in, including exposure to heat, oxygen, and partial combustion by-products generated by the operation of the device. For example, engine oil becomes less effective during its use, in part due to exposure of the oil to acidic and pro-oxidant by-products.

These oxidized and acidic hydrocarbons of the lubricant can then go on to cause corrosion, wear and deposit problems.

[0003] Modern engine designs tend to incorporate smaller sump volumes coupled with higher operating temperatures than ever before. These design specifications lead to greater oxidative stress on the lubricant and increased propensity to form high temperature deposits on key engine zones such as the piston ring zone.

[0004] Given the continual demands placed on the lubricant by the modern engine designs mentioned above, modern engine testing is necessarily becoming more severe. For instance, the industry standard high temperature deposit test (Sequence IIIG) is a very severe piston cleanliness test with high sump

temperatures and high load. There are a variety of bench tests that seek to simulate the deposit forming tendencies of lubricating oils in this and other engine tests including the Komatsu hot tube test (KHT). The procedure calls for circulating an oil through a hot glass tube (such as 232-320°C and more typically 270-290°C) for a specified period of time. At the end of test, the tube is rated visually for deposits with a rating of 10 being a perfectly clear tube and 0 being a black tube. The test gauges the innate tendency of the lubricant to form deposits in the absence of combustion processes.

[0005] Current and proposed specifications for crankcase lubricants, such as

GF-5 for passenger car motor oils, and PC- 10 for heavy duty diesel engines specify increasingly stringent standards or limits to meet government specifications. Of particular concern are sulfur and phosphorus limits. Sulfur and phosphorus from the lubricant can end up in the catalytic converter. It is widely believed that lowering these limits in lubricants may have a serious impact on engine

performance, engine wear, and oxidation of engine oils. This is because historically a major contributor to phosphorus content in engine oils has been zinc

dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDP), and ZDP has long been used to impart antiwear and antioxidancy performance to engine oils. Thus, as reduced amounts of ZDP are anticipated in engine oils, there is a need for alternatives to impart protection against deterioration in one or more of the properties of engine performance, engine wear, and oxidation of engine oils. Such improved protection is desirable whether or not ZDP and related materials are included in the lubricant. Desirable lubricants may be low in one or more of phosphorus and sulfur

[0006] There is a need for dual function additives that provide engine deposit control at high operating temperatures along with one of the conventional functions of an engine oil additive (such as dispersing of soot). In addition, it is desirable if this dual function additive also can function with low levels of conventional antioxidants and/or low levels of metal or sulfur containing additives in the lubricant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to copper modified dispersants. These copper modified dispersant tend to minimize deposits formed as a result of oil insoluble oxidation products on the walls of glass tubes and engine components. These copper modified dispersants also increase the oxidation induction times of the formulated lubricant in tests like the SAE CECL85. [0008] It has now been discovered that the presence of copper, supplied for instance in the form of a reaction product of aminic (also known as ashless)

+ 1 +2

dispersants and copper compounds, such as Cu or Cu , provides a beneficial effect on one or more of the above properties. In particular, such materials as copper PIB-succinimide dispersants impart a beneficial effect in one or more of the Komatsu Hot Tube deposits screen test (KHT).

[0009] The desired metal can be supplied as a Cu-modified dispersant, such as a succinimide dispersant, Mannich base, or hydrocarbyl based polymer dispersants. Such materials may be prepared by forming a copper mixed anhydride between a copper sulfate or copper acetate and a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic anhydride, such as an alkenyl- or alkyl- succinic anhydride. The resulting copper- succinate intermediate may be used directly or it may be reacted with any of a number of materials, such as (a) a polyamine-based succinimide/amide dispersant having free, condensable -NH functionality; (b) the components of a polyamine- based succinimide/amide dispersant, i.e., an alkenyl- or alkyl -succinic anhydride and a polyamine, (c) a hydroxy-containing polyester dispersant prepared by the reaction of a substituted succinic anhydride with a polyol, aminoalcohol, polyamine, or mixtures thereof. Alternatively, the copper-succinate intermediate may be reacted with other agents such as alcohols, aminoalcohols, ether alcohols, polyether alcohols or polyols, or fatty acids, and the product thereof either used directly to impart copper to a lubricant, or else further reacted with the succinic dispersants as described above. As an example of a dispersant post-treated with metal, 1 part (by mole) of copper sulfate, copper acetate, and/or copper hydroxide may be reacted with 2 parts (by mole) of a polyisobutene-substituted succinic anhydride at 1 10 - 155°C or in one embodiment 140-150°C, for 5 to 6 hours to provide a copper modified dispersant or intermediate. The resulting material (30 g) may be further reacted with a succinimide dispersant from polyisobutene- substituted succinic anhydride and a polyethylenepolyamine mixture (127 g + diluent oil) at 155°C for 1.5 hours, to produce a copper-modified succinimide dispersant.

[0010] Dispersants are well known in the field of lubricants and include primarily what is known as ashless-type dispersants and polymeric dispersants. Ashless type dispersants are characterized by a polar group attached to a relatively high molecular weight hydrocarbon chain. Typical ashless dispersants include nitrogen-containing dispersants such as N-substituted long chain alkenyl

succinimides, having a variety of chemical structures including typically

[0011] where each R is independently an alkyl group, frequently a polyisobutyl group with a molecular weight of 500-5000, and R are alkylene groups, commonly ethylene (C ₂ H ₄ ) groups. Such molecules are commonly derived from reaction of an alkenyl acylating agent with a polyamine, and a wide variety of linkages between the two moieties is possible in addition to the representative imide structure shown above, including a variety of amides and quaternary ammonium salts. Succinimide dispersants are more fully described in U.S. Patents 4,234,435 and 3, 172,892.

[0012] The invention further provides a method of lubricating an internal combustion engine comprising the step of: supplying to the internal combustion engine the lubricating composition described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Various preferred features and embodiments will be described below by way of non-limiting illustration.

[0014] The amounts of additives present in the lubricating composition disclosed herein are quoted on an oil free basis, i.e., amount of actives, unless otherwise noted.

Oils of Lubricating Viscosity

[0015] The lubricating compositions of the invention comprise an oil of lubricating viscosity. Suitable oils include both natural and synthetic oils, oil derived from hydro cracking, hydro gen ation, and hydrofinishing, unrefined, refined, re-refined oils or mixtures thereof. [0016] Unrefined oils are those obtained directly from a natural or synthetic source generally without (or with little) further purification treatment.

[0017] Refined oils are similar to the unrefined oils except they have been further treated in one or more purification steps to improve one or more properties. Purification techniques are known in the art and include solvent extraction, secondary distillation, acid or base extraction, filtration, percolation and the like.

[0018] Re-refined oils are also known as reclaimed or reprocessed oils, and are obtained by processes similar to those used to obtain refined oils and often are additionally processed by techniques directed to removal of spent additives and oil breakdown products.

[0019] Natural oils useful in making the inventive lubricants include animal oils, vegetable oils (e.g., castor oil,), mineral lubricating oils such as liquid petroleum oils and solvent-treated or acid-treated mineral lubricating oils of the paraffinic, naphthenic or mixed paraffinic-naphthenic types and oils derived from coal or shale or mixtures thereof.

[0020] Synthetic lubricating oils are useful and include hydrocarbon oils such as polymerized, oligomerised, or interpolymerised olefins (e.g., polybutylenes, polypropylenes, propyleneisobutylene copolymers); poly(l-hexenes), poly(l- octenes), trimers or oligomers of 1 -decene, e.g., poly(l-decenes), such materials being often referred to as poly a-olefins, and mixtures thereof; alkyl-benzenes (e.g., dodecylbenzenes, tetra-decylbenzenes, dinonylbenzenes, di-(2-ethylhexyl)- benzenes); polyphenyls (e.g., biphenyls, terphenyls, alkylated polyphenyls);

diphenyl alkanes, alkylated diphenyl alkanes, alkylated diphenyl ethers and alkylated diphenyl sulphides and the derivatives, analogs and homologs thereof or mixtures thereof.

[0021] Other synthetic lubricating oils include polyol esters (such as

Priolube®3970), diesters, liquid esters of phosphorus-containing acids (e.g., tricresyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, and the diethyl ester of decane phosphonic acid), or polymeric tetrahydrofurans. Synthetic oils may be produced by Fischer - Tropsch reactions and typically may be hydroisomerised Fischer-Tropsch

hydrocarbons or waxes. In one embodiment, oils may be prepared by a Fischer- Tropsch gas-to-liquid synthetic procedure as well as other gas-to-liquid oils. [0022] Oils of lubricating viscosity may also be defined as specified in April

2008 version of "Appendix E - API Base Oil Interchangeability Guidelines for Passenger Car Motor Oils and Diesel Engine Oils", section 1.3 Sub-heading 1.3. "Base Stock Categories". In one embodiment, the oil of lubricating viscosity may be an API Group II or Group III oil. In one embodiment, the oil of lubricating viscosity may be an API Group I oil.

[0023] The amount of the oil of lubricating viscosity present is typically the balance remaining after subtracting from 100 wt. % the sum of the amount of the compound of the invention and the other performance additives.

[0024] The lubricating composition may be in the form of a concentrate and/or a fully formulated lubricant. If the lubricating composition of the invention (comprising the additives disclosed herein) is in the form of a concentrate which may be combined with additional oil to form, in whole or in part, a finished lubricant), the ratio of the of these additives to the oil of lubricating viscosity and/or to diluent oil include the ranges of 1 :99 to 99: 1 by weight, or 80:20 to 10:90 by weight.

The Dispersant Treated with Copper

[0025] The present invention provides a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity and an additive comprising a dispersant treated with copper.

[0026] In one embodiments, the ashless dispersant reacted with copper, hereinafter additive, may be present in a lubricating composition in a concentration from about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent, more desirably from about 1 to about 5 weight percent, and preferably from about 1.5 to about 3.5 weight percent based on the total weight of the lubricating compositions. Desirably, the amount of copper incorporated into the lubricant from treating the dispersant in the lubricating composition is from about 5, 6, or 7 to about 500 parts per million parts by weight (ppm) of lubricating composition, more desirably from about 5, 6, 8, or 10 to about 50, 100, or 350 ppm, and in one embodiment, from about 40 or 50 to 150 or 200 ppm. [0027] Generally, the ashless dispersant and the copper compound will be reacted together at temperatures of at least 100°C, more desirably at least 140°C for times such as desirably at least 1 hour and more desirably at least 2 or 4 hours so as to form a reaction product where a significant portion of copper is physically or chemically associated with the dispersant. While a reaction product is the desired result, it is acknowledge that some copper and some ashless dispersant may remain in the form of reactants that haven't been converted to associated materials.

[0028] Suitable dispersants for use in the compositions of the present invention include succinimide dispersants. In one embodiment, the dispersant may be present as a single dispersant. In one embodiment, the dispersant may be present as a mixture of two or three different dispersants, wherein at least one may be a succinimide dispersant.

[0029] The succinimide dispersant may be a derivative of an aliphatic polyamine, or mixtures thereof. The aliphatic polyamine may be aliphatic polyamine such as an ethylenepolyamine, a propylenepolyamine, a butylenepolyamine, or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the aliphatic polyamine may be

ethylenepolyamine. In one embodiment, the aliphatic polyamine may be selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine,

triethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, pentaethylenehexamine, polyamine still bottoms, and mixtures thereof.

[0030] The dispersant may be a N-substituted long chain alkenyl

succinimide. Examples of N-substituted long chain alkenyl succinimide include polyisobutylene succinimide. Typically, the polyisobutylene from which

polyisobutylene succinic anhydride is derived has a number average molecular weight of 350 to 5000, or 550 to 3000 or 750 to 2500. Succinimide dispersants and their preparation are disclosed, for instance in US Patents 3, 172,892; 3,219,666; 3,316,177; 3,340,281 ; 3,351 ,552; 3,381 ,022; 3,433,744; 3,444,170; 3,467,668;

3,501 ,405; 3,542,680; 3,576,743; 3,632,51 1; 4,234,435; Re 26,433; 6,165,235;

7,238,650; and EP Patent Application 0 355 895 A.

[0031] Another class of ashless dispersant is Mannich base type. These are materials which are formed by the condensation of a higher molecular weight, alkyl substituted phenol, an alkylene polyamine, and an aldehyde such as formaldehyde. Such materials may have the general structure

(including a variety of isomers and the like) and are described in more detail in U.S. Patent 3,634,515.

[0032] Another class of ashless dispersant is high molecular weight ester type. These materials are similar to the above-described succinimides except that they may be seen as having been prepared by reaction of a hydrocarbyl acylating agent and a polyhydric aliphatic alcohol such as glycerol, pentaerythritol, or sorbitol. Such materials are described in more detail in U.S. Patent 3,381 ,022 and 3,306,908.

[0033] Other dispersants include polymeric dispersant additives, which are generally hydrocarbon-based polymers which contain polar functionality to impart dispersancy characteristics to the polymer.

[0034] Dispersants can also be post-treated by reaction with any of a variety of agents. Among these are urea, thiourea, dimercaptothiadiazoles, carbon disulfide, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, hydrocarbon-substituted succinic anhydrides, nitriles, epoxides, boron compounds, and phosphorus compounds.

References detailing such treatment are listed in U.S. Patent 4,654,403 and

3,305,905.

Additional Performance Additives

[0035] The compositions of the invention may optionally comprise one or more additional performance additives. These additional performance additives may include one or more metal deactivators, viscosity modifiers, detergents, friction modifiers, antiwear agents, corrosion inhibitors, dispersants (other than the compound of the present invention), dispersant viscosity modifiers, extreme pressure agents, antioxidants, foam inhibitors, demulsifiers, pour point depressants, seal swelling agents, and any combination or mixture thereof. Typically, fully- formulated lubricating oil will contain one or more of these performance additives, and often a package of multiple performance additives.

[0036] In one embodiment, the invention provides a lubricating composition further comprising an antiwear agent, a dispersant viscosity modifier, a friction modifier, a viscosity modifier, an antioxidant, an overbased detergent, or a combination thereof, where each of the additives listed may be a mixture of two or more of that type of additive. In one embodiment, the invention provides a lubricating composition further comprising an antiwear agent, a dispersant viscosity modifier, a friction modifier, a viscosity modifier (typically an olefin copolymer such as an ethylene-propylene copolymer), an antioxidant (including phenolic and/or aminic antioxidants), an overbased detergent (including overbased sulfonates and phenates), or a combination thereof, where each of the additives listed may be a mixture of two or more of that type of additive.

[0037] In one embodiment, the lubricating composition of the invention further includes an antiwear agent such as a phosphorus-containing antiwear agent such as a dithiophosphate agent such as a metal dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate (typically zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP)), wherein the metal dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate contributes at least 100 ppm, at least 200 ppm, or at least 250 ppm, or 200 ppm to 1000 ppm, or 250 or 300 ppm to 800 ppm, or 300 or 400 ppm to 600 ppm of phosphorus to the lubricating composition. In one embodiment, the lubricating composition is free of or substantially free (meaning less than 100, less than 50 or less than 20 ppm of phosphorus from a metal dialkyldithiophosphate such as zinc dialkyldithiophosphate).

[0038] In one embodiment, the lubricating composition of the invention further comprises a dispersant viscosity modifier. The dispersant viscosity modifier may be present at 0 wt. % to 5 wt. %, or 0 wt. % to 4 wt. %, or 0.05 wt. % to 2 wt. % of the lubricating composition.

[0039] Suitable dispersant viscosity modifiers include functionalized polyolefins, for example, ethylene-propylene copolymers that have been

functionalized with an acylating agent such as maleic anhydride and an amine; polymethacrylates functionalized with an amine, or esterified styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers reacted with an amine. More detailed description of dispersant viscosity modifiers are disclosed in International Publication

WO2006/015130 or U.S. Patents 4,863,623; 6,107,257; 6, 107,258; and 6, 1 17,825. In one embodiment, the dispersant viscosity modifier may include those described in U.S. Patent 4,863,623 (see column 2, line 15 to column 3, line 52) or in

International Publication WO2006/015130 (see page 2, paragraph [0008] and preparative examples are described paragraphs [0065] to [0073]).

[0040] In one embodiment it is desirable if the lubricant composition has low level or is free of metals selected from the group of molybdenum, titanium, and boron. In one embodiment the lubricant composition has less than 100, less than 50, less than 20, less than 20 or 0 ppm of molybdenum based on the weight of the lubricant composition. Ppm is an abbreviation for parts by weight per million parts by weight of the total composition. In one embodiment the lubricant composition has less than 50, less than 30, less than 10, less than 5 or 0 ppm of titanium based on the weight of the lubricant composition. In one embodiment the lubricant composition has less than 100, less than 80, less than 50, less than 25, less than 10, or 0 ppm of boron based on the weight of the lubricant composition. In one embodiment the limitations on molybdenum, titanium, and boron are all together applied to the composition.

[0041] In one embodiment, the invention provides a lubricating composition further comprising an overbased detergent. The overbased detergent may be selected from the group consisting of sulfur-free phenates, sulfur- containing phenates, sulfonates, salixarates, salicylates, and mixtures thereof.

[0042] The overbased detergent may also include "hybrid" detergents formed with mixed surfactant systems including phenate and/or sulfonate components, e.g. phenate/salicylates, sulfonate/phenates, sulfonate/salicylates,

sulfonates/phenates/salicylates, as described for example, in US Patents 6,429, 178; 6,429, 179; 6, 153,565; and 6,281 , 179. Where, for example, a hybrid

sulfonate/phenate detergent is employed, the hybrid detergent would be considered equivalent to amounts of distinct phenate and sulfonate detergents introducing like amounts of phenate and sulfonate soaps, respectively.

[0043] Typically, an overbased detergent may be sodium salts, calcium salts, magnesium salts, or mixtures thereof of the phenates, sulfur containing phenates, sulfonates, salixarates and salicylates. Overbased phenates and salicylates typically have a total base number of 180 to 450 TBN. Overbased sulfonates typically have a total base number of 250 to 600, or 300 to 500. Overbased detergents are known in the art. In one embodiment, the sulfonate detergent may be predominantly a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate detergent having a metal ratio of at least 8 as is described in paragraphs [0026] to [0037] of US Patent Publication 2005065045 (and granted as US 7,407,919). The linear alkylbenzene sulfonate detergent may be particularly useful for assisting in improving fuel economy. The linear alkyl group may be attached to the benzene ring anywhere along the linear chain of the alkyl group, but often in the 2-, 3- or 4- position of the linear chain. In some instances, the linear alkyl group may be attached in predominantly the 2- position, resulting in the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate detergent. The overbased detergent may be present at 0 wt. % to 15 wt. %, 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. %, 0.2 wt. % to 8 wt. %, or 0.2 wt. % to 3 wt. %. For example, in a heavy duty diesel engine the detergent may be present at or 2 wt. % to 3 wt. % of the lubricating composition. For a passenger car engine the detergent may be present at 0.2 wt. % to 1 wt. % of the lubricating composition.

[0044] In one embodiment, the lubricating composition includes an antioxidant, or mixtures thereof. The antioxidant may be present at 0 wt. % to 15 wt. %, 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. %, or 0.5 wt. % to 5 wt. % of the lubricating

composition.

[0045] Antioxidants include sulfurized olefins, alkylated diarylamines

(typically alkylated phenyl naphthyl amines, for example those commercially available as Irganox® L 06 from CIBA, or alkylated diphenylamines such as dinonyl diphenylamine, octyl diphenylamine, dioctyl diphenyl amine), hindered phenols, molybdenum compounds (such as molybdenum dithiocarbamates), or mixtures thereof.

[0046] The hindered phenol antioxidant often contains a secondary butyl and/or a tertiary butyl group as a sterically hindering group. The phenol group may be further substituted with a hydrocarbyl group (typically linear or branched alkyl) and/or a bridging group linking to a second aromatic group. Examples of suitable hindered phenol antioxidants include 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, 4-methyl-2,6-di-tert- butylphenol, 4-ethyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, 4-propyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol or 4- butyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, or 4-dodecyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol. In one embodiment, the hindered phenol antioxidant may be an ester and may include e.g., Irganox™ L-135 from Ciba. A more detailed description of suitable ester- containing hindered phenol antioxidant chemistry is found in US Patent 6,559, 105.

[0047] Examples of friction modifiers include long chain fatty acid derivatives of amines, fatty esters, or epoxides; fatty imidazolines such as condensation products of carboxylic acids and polyalkylene-polyamines; amine salts of alkylphosphoric acids; fatty alkyl tartrates; fatty alkyl tartrimides; or fatty alkyl tartramides. In some embodiments, the term fatty, as used herein, can mean having a C8-22 linear alkyl group.

[0048] Friction modifiers may also encompass materials such as sulfurised fatty compounds and olefins, molybdenum dialkyldithiophosphates, molybdenum dithiocarbamates, sunflower oil or monoester of a polyol and an aliphatic carboxylic acid.

[0049] In one embodiment, the friction modifier may be selected from the group consisting of long chain fatty acid derivatives of amines, long chain fatty esters, or long chain fatty epoxides; fatty imidazolines; amine salts of

alkylphosphoric acids; fatty alkyl tartrates; fatty alkyl tartrimides; and fatty alkyl tartramides. The friction modifier may be present at 0 wt. % to 6 wt. %, or 0.05 wt. % to 4 wt. %, or 0.1 wt. % to 2 wt. % of the lubricating composition.

[0050] In one embodiment, the friction modifier may be a long chain fatty acid ester. In another embodiment, the long chain fatty acid ester may be a monoester or a diester or a mixture thereof, and in another embodiment, the long chain fatty acid ester may be a triglyceride.

[0051] Other performance additives such as corrosion inhibitors include those described in paragraphs 5 to 8 of US Application US05/038319, published as WO2006/047486, octyl octanamide, condensation products of dodecenyl succinic acid or anhydride and a fatty acid such as oleic acid with a polyamine. In one embodiment, the corrosion inhibitors include the Synalox® corrosion inhibitor. The Synalox® corrosion inhibitor may be a homopolymer or copolymer of propylene oxide. The Synalox® corrosion inhibitor is described in more detail in a product brochure with Form No. 1 18-01453-0702 AMS, published by The Dow Chemical Company. The product brochure is entitled "SYNALOX Lubricants, High-Performance Polyglycols for Demanding Applications."

[0052] Metal deactivators including derivatives of benzotriazoles (typically tolyltriazole), dimercaptothiadiazole derivatives, 1 ,2,4-triazoles, benzimidazoles, 2- alkyldithiobenzimidazoles, or 2-alkyldithiobenzothiazoles; foam inhibitors including copolymers of ethyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and copolymers of ethyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexylacrylate and vinyl acetate; demulsifiers including trialkyl phosphates, polyethylene glycols, polyethylene oxides, polypropylene oxides and (ethylene oxide-propylene oxide) polymers; pour point depressants including esters of maleic anhydride-styrene, polymethacrylates, polyacrylates or polyacrylamides may be useful.

[0053] Pour point depressants that may be useful in the compositions of the invention include poly(alphaolefins), esters of maleic anhydride-styrene, poly(meth)acrylates, polyacrylates or polyacrylamides.

[0054] In different embodiments, the lubricating composition may have a composition as described in the following Table 1 :

Table 1

[0055] The present invention provides a surprising ability to reduce high temperature deposit formation on walls of the reactor in the KHT test simply by modifying the dispersant with a few hundred ppm of copper.

Industrial Application

[0056] In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of lubricating an internal combustion engine comprising the step of supplying to the internal combustion engine a lubricating composition as disclosed herein. Generally, the lubricant is added to the lubricating system of the internal combustion engine, which then delivers the lubricating composition to the critical parts of the engine that require lubrication during its operation.

[0057] The lubricating compositions described above may be utilized in an internal combustion engine. The engine components may have a surface of steel or aluminum (typically a surface of steel), and may also be coated for example with a diamond like carbon (DLC) coating.

[0058] An aluminum surface may be comprised of an aluminum alloy that may be a eutectic or hyper-eutectic aluminum alloy (such as those derived from aluminum silicates, aluminum oxides, or other ceramic materials). The aluminum surface may be present on a cylinder bore, cylinder block, or piston ring having an aluminum alloy, or aluminum composite.

[0059] The internal combustion engine may or may not have an Exhaust Gas

Recirculation (EGR) system. The internal combustion engine may be fitted with an emission control system or a turbocharger. Examples of the emission control system include diesel particulate filters (DPF), or systems employing selective catalytic reduction (SCR).

[0060] In one embodiment, the internal combustion engine may be a diesel fuelled or biofuelled engine (typically a heavy duty diesel engine), a gasoline fuelled engine, a natural gas fuelled engine or a mixed gasoline/alcohol fuelled engine. In one embodiment, the internal combustion engine may be a diesel fuelled engine and in another embodiment, a gasoline fuelled engine.

[0061] The internal combustion engine may be a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine.

Suitable internal combustion engines include marine diesel engines, aviation piston engines, low-load diesel engines, and automobile and truck engines. [0062] The internal combustion engine of the present invention is distinct from gas turbine. In an internal combustion engine, individual combustion events which through the rod and crankshaft translate from a linear reciprocating force into a rotational torque. In contrast, in a gas turbine (may also be referred to as a jet engine) it is a continuous combustion process that generates a rotational torque continuously without translation and can also develop thrust at the exhaust outlet. These differences result in the operation conditions of a gas turbine and internal combustion engine different operating environments and stresses.

[0063] The lubricant composition for an internal combustion engine may be suitable for any engine lubricant irrespective of the sulfur, phosphorus or sulfated ash (ASTM D-874) content. The sulfur content of the engine oil lubricant may be 1 wt. % or less, 0.8 wt. % or less, 0.5 wt. % or less, or 0.3 wt. % or less. In one embodiment, the sulfur content may be in the range of 0.001 wt. % to 0.5 wt. %, or 0.01 wt. % to 0.3 wt. %. The phosphorus content may be 0.2 wt. % or less, 0.12 wt. % or less, 0.1 wt. % or less, 0.085 wt. % or less, 0.08 wt. % or less, 0.06 wt. % or less, 0.055 wt. % or less, or 0.05 wt. % or less. In one embodiment, the phosphorus content may be 100 ppm to 1000 ppm, or 200 ppm to 600 ppm. The total sulfated ash content may be 2 wt. % or less, 1.5 wt. % or less, or 1.1 wt. % or less, 1 wt. % or less, 0.8 wt. % or less, 0.5 wt. % or less, or 0.4 wt. % or less. In one

embodiment, the sulfated ash content may be 0.05 wt. % to 0.9 wt. %, 0.1 wt. % to 0.2 wt. % or to 0.45 wt. %. Desirably in one embodiment, the amount of sulfur from all the sulfur containing additives is from about 500 or 1000 to about 2500 ppm sulfur, based on the weight of the lubricant compositions, more desirably from about 500 to about 1500 ppm.

[0064] In one embodiment, the lubricating composition may be an engine oil, wherein the lubricating composition may be characterized as having at least one of (i) a sulfur content of 0.5 wt. % or less, (ii) a phosphorus content of 0.1 wt. % or less, (iii) a sulfated ash content of 1.5 wt. % or less, or combinations thereof.

EXAMPLES

[0065] The invention will be further illustrated by the following examples, which set forth particularly advantageous embodiments. While the examples are provided to illustrate the invention, they are not intended to limit it. Comparative Example 1 (CEX1): Synthesis of Succinimide Dispersant from 2000 Mn Conventional Polyisobutylene.

[0066] A 2 L 4-necked round bottom flask was equipped with a stirrer, dropping funnel, sub-surface tube, thermowell, Dean-Stark trap and Friedrick's condenser, charged with polyisobutylene succinic anhydride (550 g, 2000 Mn, conventional PIBSA, TAN = 68), diluent oil (505 g) and purged with nitrogen. Polyethylene amine still bottoms (25 g, 34 wt. % N) were added to the dropping funnel. The mixture was warmed to 1 10°C with stirring. The polyamine was added drop-wise to the sub-surface tube over 35 min. The temperature was increased to 155°C and the preparation was stirred for 5.25 h. 2.2 g water was collected in the Dean-Stark trap. Diatomaceous earth (16 g) was added to the mixture and the dispersant was filtered through a supplemental pad of diatomaceous earth (16 g) to yield a succinimide dispersant as a clear brown oil (1013 g, KV100 = 548, %N = 0.79).

Comparative Example 2 (CEX2): Synthesis of Al-Containing Dispersant

[0067] The dispersant of Comparative Example 1 (1400 g) was charged to a

2 L 4-necked round bottom flask equipped with a stirrer, thermowell, sub-surface tube, Dean-Stark trap and Friedrick's condenser and the flask was purged with nitrogen. The dispersant was warmed to 90°C with stirring. Al(PrO) ₃ (45 g) was charged in one aliquot and the temperature was increased to 155°C. The mixture was stirred for 5 h, filtered through diatomaceous earth and cooled to yield a brown oil (1375 g, KV100 = 4626 cSt, 0.27% Al).

Comparative Example 3 (CEX3): Synthesis of La-Containing Dispersant

[0068] The procedure of Comparative Example 2 was used except the dispersant of Comparative Example 1 (1300 g) was treated with La(OH) (7.1 g) to yield a brown oil (1 178 g, KV100 = 487 cSt). Comparative Example 4 (CEX4): Synthesis of Ba-Containing Dispersant

[0069] The procedure of Comparative Example 2 was used except the dispersant of Comparative Example 1 (1300 g) was treated with Ba(OH)2*8H ₂ 0 (12 g) to yield a brown oil (1 187 g, KV100 = 478 cSt, 0.38% Ba).

Comparative Example 5 (CEX5): Synthesis of Zn-Containing Dispersant

[0070] The procedure of Comparative Example 2 was used except the dispersant of Comparative Example 1 (1300 g) was treated with Zn(OAc) ₂ (18 g) to yield a brown oil (1216 g, KV100 = 682 cSt, 0.39% Zn).

Example 6 (EX6): Synthesis of Cu-Containing Dispersant 1

[0071] The procedure of Comparative Example 2 was used except the dispersant of Comparative Example 1 (1300 g) was treated with CuS0 ₄ (13 g) to yield a light purple oil (1216 g, KV100 = 544 cSt, 0.08% Cu).

Example 7 (EX7): Synthesis of Cu-Containing Dispersant 2

[0072] The procedure of Comparative Example 2 was used except the dispersant of Comparative Example 1 (1300 g) was treated with Cu(OAc) ₂ *H ₂ 0 (17 g) to yield a green oil (1200 g, KV100 = 61 1 cSt, 0.39% Cu).

Example 8 (EX8): Dilution of Example 7 with Comparative Example 1 (50:50)

[0073] The Dipsersant 2 was mixed 50:50 by weight with Comparative

Example 1 to see the effect of concentration of the metal treated dispersant.

Example 9 (EX9): Dilution of Example 7 with Comparative Example 1 (25:75)

[0074] The Dipsersant 2 was mixed 50:50 by weight with Comparative

Example 1 to see the effect of concentration of the metal treated dispersant.

Preparative Example 10 (PEX10): Synthesis of High TBN Succinimide

Dispersant from 2000 Mn Conventional Polyisobutylene.

[0075] A 2 L 4-necked round bottom flask was equipped with a stirrer, dropping funnel, sub-surface tube, thermowell, Dean-Stark trap and Friedrick's condenser, charged with polyisobutylene succinic anhydride (600 g, 2000 Mn, conventional PIBSA, TAN = 73), diluent oil (635 g) and purged with nitrogen. Polyethylene amine still bottoms (43 g, 34 wt. % N) were added to the dropping funnel. The mixture was warmed to 1 10°C with stirring. The polyamine was added drop-wise to the sub-surface tube over 35 min. The temperature was increased to 155°C and the preparation was stirred for 5.25 h. 3.1 g water was collected in the Dean-Stark trap. Diatomaceous earth (18 g) was added to the mixture and the dispersant was filtered through a supplemental pad of diatomaceous earth (18 g) to yield a succinimide dispersant as a clear brown oil (1 1 17 g, KV100 = 183, %N = 1.2).

Example 11 (EX11): Synthesis of Cu-Containing Dispersant from

Cu(OAc) ₂ xH ₂ 0

[0076] The procedure of Comparative Example 2 was used except the dispersant of Comparative Example 10 (1300 g) was treated with Cu(OAc) ₂ xH ₂ 0 (16.6 g) to yield a brown oil (1200.0 g, KV100 = 61 1 cSt).

Lubricating Oils:

[0077] The materials from Examples CEX1- EX1 1 were blended into an API

SN capable lubricating oil (5W-30) in group II basestocks as detailed in Table 2. Component descriptions and treat rates are listed on a diluent oil free basis.

Comparative Lubricant 1 contains Comparative Dispersant Example 1 which is a baseline that contains no succinimide dispersant post-treatment with a metal.

Comparative Lubricants 2-5 (CL2-CL5) contain equivalent treat rates of

Comparative Dispersant Examples 2-5 containing Al, La, Ba and Zn post- treatments, respectively. These metals have only one stable oxidation state.

Lubricants 6-9 and 1 1 (L6-L9 and LI 1) have different types or amounts of copper as a post treatment for the dispersant used in each example. Table 2. Formulas Tested (Treat Rates on Oil Free Basis).

1 Combination of 520 TBN and 690 TBN overbased calcium sulfonate detergents

2 Overbased sodium sulfonate detergent (650 TBN)

3 C3/C6 secondary zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP)

4 Combination of hindered phenol, alkylated diphenyl amine, and sulfurized olefin

5 Ethylene -propylene copolymer

6 Other additives include friction modifier(s), foam inhibitor(s), and/or pour point depressant(s)

Performance Testing:

[0078] The Lubricants from Table 1 were tested in the KHT test. Briefly, 5 mL of the test oil was pumped through a heated glass capillary tube at 0.31 cc/h. The sample was purged with air at a rate of 10 cc/min. The sample was circulated through the glass tube for 16 h while the tube is heated to 280 °C. At the end of test, the tube is visually rated according to the scale found in Figure 1 (10 = clean tube, 0 = dirty tube).

[0079] Table 3 shows the KHT performance of the Lubricants from Table 2.

The comparative lubricants (CL1-CL5) all gave dirty black tubes (0) while the inventive lubricants (L6-L8) all gave much cleaner tubes in the range of 8.5-9. Table 3. KHT Performance of the Lubricants from Table 1.

[0080] It is known that some of the materials described above may interact in the final formulation, so that the components of the final formulation may be different from those that are initially added. The products formed thereby, including the products formed upon employing lubricant composition of the present invention in its intended use, may not be susceptible of easy description.

Nevertheless, all such modifications and reaction products are included within the scope of the present invention; the present invention encompasses lubricant composition prepared by admixing the components described above.

[0081] Each of the documents referred to above is incorporated herein by reference, as is the priority document and all related applications, if any, which this application claims the benefit of. Except in the Examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description specifying amounts of materials, reaction conditions, molecular weights, number of carbon atoms, and the like, are to be understood as modified by the word "about." Unless otherwise indicated, each chemical or composition referred to herein should be interpreted as being a commercial grade material which may contain the isomers, by-products, derivatives, and other such materials which are normally understood to be present in the commercial grade. However, the amount of each chemical component is presented exclusive of any solvent or diluent oil, which may be customarily present in the commercial material, unless otherwise indicated. It is to be understood that the upper and lower amount, range, and ratio limits set forth herein may be independently combined. Similarly, the ranges and amounts for each element of the invention may be used together with ranges or amounts for any of the other elements.

[0082] As used herein, the term "hydrocarbyl substituent" or "hydrocarbyl group" is used in its ordinary sense, which is well-known to those skilled in the art.

Specifically, it refers to a group having a carbon atom directly attached to the remainder of the molecule and having predominantly hydrocarbon character.

Examples of hydrocarbyl groups include:

(i) hydrocarbon substituents, that is, aliphatic (e.g., alkyl or alkenyl), alicyclic (e.g., cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl) substituents, and aromatic-, aliphatic-, and alicyclic- substituted aromatic substituents, as well as cyclic substituents wherein the ring is completed through another portion of the molecule (e.g., two substituents together form a ring);

(ii) substituted hydrocarbon substituents, that is, substituents containing non- hydrocarbon groups which, in the context of this invention, do not alter the predominantly hydrocarbon nature of the substituent (e.g., halo (especially chloro and fluoro), hydroxy, alkoxy, mercapto, alkylmercapto, nitro, nitroso, and sulphoxy);

(iii) hetero substituents, that is, substituents which, while having a predominantly hydrocarbon character, in the context of this invention, contain other than carbon in a ring or chain otherwise composed of carbon atoms.

[0083] Heteroatoms include sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, and encompass substituents as pyridyl, furyl, thienyl and imidazolyl. In general, no more than two, preferably no more than one, non-hydrocarbon substituent will be present for every ten carbon atoms in the hydrocarbyl group; typically, there will be no non- hydrocarbon substituents in the hydrocarbyl group.

[0084] While the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention disclosed herein is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.