INVESTIGATIONS OF POLYMER MOLECULAR DESIGN FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE LUBRICANT ADDITIVES
Generally, the state-of-the-art viscosity modifiers or VI improvers have this singular function, and aside from becoming more expensive with increasing performance, they offer opportunities for improvement. Our group is developing novel polymeric viscosity modifiers that incorporate improved shear resistance and a friction benefit to create a multipurpose additive. To that end, we are fine tuning the molecular structure and polymer architecture of our compounds to enhance these desirable characteristics. We are investigating several promising polymer classes that range from hyperbranched polymers to combburst hyperbranched analogs, modified polyethylene-based polymers and hybrid star polymers. We will be discussing critical polymer parameters such as solubility, molecular weight, lipophilicity and hydrophobicity, and how they relate to viscosity and friction.