A method for minimizing power loss, reducing a fuel consumption and/or for reducing and/or avoiding deposits in a fuel system in the direct injection diesel engines. The method contains adding a copolymer to a fuel composition, wherein the copolymer contains, in a copolymerized form: (A) an ethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, (B) an -olefin having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms, (C) optionally an additional aliphatic or cycloaliphatic olefin which has at least 4 carbon atoms and is different from monomer (B) and (D) optionally an additional copolymerizable monomers other than monomers (A), (B) and (C), anhydride or carboxylic acid functionalities present in the copolymer are partly reacted with at least one compound (E) comprising an alcohol group and/or an amino group, and the anhydride functionalities present in the copolymer are hydrolysed and/or carboxylic ester functionalities present in the copolymer are partly hydrolyzed.

Described herein are associative polymers capable of controlling a physical and/or chemical property of non-polar compositions and related compositions, methods and systems. Associative polymers herein described have a non-polar backbone and functional groups presented at ends of the non-polar backbone, with a number of the functional groups presented at the ends of the non-polar backbone formed by associative functional groups capable of undergoing an associative interaction with another associative functional group with an association constant (k) such that the strength of each associative interaction is less than the strength of a covalent bond between atoms and in particular less than the strength of a covalent bond between backbone atoms.

A quaternary ammonium salt of formula (I): wherein X is a linking group; Y is O, NH or NR.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is H or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group; Q.sup.+ is a moiety that includes a quaternary ammonium cation; A.sup. is an anion; R.sup.2 is an optionally substituted alkylene group; R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group; and n is 0 or a positive integer; provided that n is not 0 when R.sup.3 is hydrogen.

##STR00001##

A quaternary ammonium salt of formula (I): (I) where in X is a linking group; Y is O, NH or NR.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1is H or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group; Q.sup. is a moiety that includes a quaternary ammoniumcation; A.sup. is an anion; R.sup.2 is an optionally substituted alkylene group; R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group; and n is 0 or a positive integer; provided that n is not 0 when R.sup.3 is hydrogen.

##STR00001##

A diesel fuel composition comprising as an additive an ester compound which is the reaction product of an optionally substituted polycarboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof and a compound or formula H(OR).sub.nOR.sup.1, wherein R is an optionally substituted alkylene group, R.sup.1 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group and n is at least 1.

To provide a lubricating oil additive, a lubricating oil, a grease composition, a fuel oil additive, a fuel oil, and an oil sludge suppression method, which are capable of effectively suppressing oil sludge in the lubricating oil. The lubricating oil additive for suppressing oil sludge contains titanium dioxide particles as an active ingredient.

Provided herein are various gas-filled particles having a stimuli-responsive shell encapsulating the gas. The stimuli-responsive shell comprises one or more release triggers. Compositions for medical or non-medical applications, methods of use and treatment, and methods of preparation are also described.

A secondary fluid is provided for use in an internal combustion engine that burns a primary fuel. The secondary fluid comprises about 15 vol % to about 30 vol % of alcohol; and about 0.0025 vol % to about 0.5 vol % of a lubricity enhancer which optionally is a castor oil. The secondary fluid is a thermodynamically stable microemulsion with water being the continuous phase.

Described herein are associative polymers capable of controlling a physical and/or chemical property of non-polar compositions and related compositions, methods and systems. Associative polymers herein described have a non-polar backbone and functional groups presented at ends of the non-polar backbone, with a number of the functional groups presented at the ends of the non-polar backbone formed by associative functional groups capable of undergoing an associative interaction with another associative functional group with an association constant (k) such that the strength of each associative interaction is less than the strength of a covalent bond between atoms and in particular less than the strength of a covalent bond between backbone atoms.

The present invention relates to an additive for fuels such as diesel fuel and fuel oil, used respectively for diesel engines and boilers of various types, comprising a metal oxidation catalyst, an organic nitrate and a dispersing agent in suitable ratios, capable of improving combustion efficiency in such a way as to reduce the formation of particulate matter and consumption.