An improved method of sealing a window into an aperture in a body uses a lubricant comprising polymer particles suspended in a volatile, low viscosity, low surface tension carrier fluid. The carrier fluid is applied to one or both of the sidewalls of the window and aperture, and the window is pressed into the aperture such that the carrier fluid evaporates, leaving the polymer particles to fill interstitial surface voids, while enabling the sidewall of the window to make intimate mechanical contact with the sidewall of the aperture. While having broader application, the present disclosure finds particular utility in optical characterization techniques based upon the Raman effect and fluorescence probes used in process monitoring and control.

An improved method of sealing a window into an aperture in a body uses a lubricant comprising polymer particles suspended in a volatile, low viscosity, low surface tension carrier fluid. The carrier fluid is applied to one or both of the sidewalls of the window and aperture, and the window is pressed into the aperture such that the carrier fluid evaporates, leaving the polymer particles to fill interstitial surface voids, while enabling the sidewall of the window to make intimate mechanical contact with the sidewall of the aperture. While having broader application, the present disclosure finds particular utility in optical characterization techniques based upon the Raman effect and fluorescence probes used in process monitoring and control.

Provided herein are methods for producing α,β-unsaturated ketones from the condensation of methyl ketones in the presence of an amine catalyst. Such amine catalysts may be supported, for example, on a silica-alumina support. Such amine catalysts may be used in the presence of an additional acid. The α,β-unsaturated ketones may be produced by dimerization and/or timerization of the methyl ketones. Such α,β-unsaturated ketones may be suitable for use in producing fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, or precursors thereof. The methyl ketones may be obtained from renewable sources, such as by the fermentation of biomass.

An organogel including a base fluid, cetyl alcohol, and a gelling agent provided in an amount to cause the fluid to change from a liquid state to a gelled state at temperatures below at least 25° C. A nanofluid including an organogel and a nanoparticle component which permits the nanofluid to change from a liquid state to a gelled state at temperatures below at least 25° C., the gelled state helping to maintain the nanoparticle component suspended throughout the base fluid; and a method for preparing a gelled nanofluid.

An organogel including a base fluid, cetyl alcohol, and a gelling agent provided in an amount to cause the fluid to change from a liquid state to a gelled state at temperatures below at least 25° C. A nanofluid including an organogel and a nanoparticle component which permits the nanofluid to change from a liquid state to a gelled state at temperatures below at least 25° C., the gelled state helping to maintain the nanoparticle component suspended throughout the base fluid; and a method for preparing a gelled nanofluid.

Disclosed are solvency enhancer compositions, for example, as additives to lubricating oils and as formulated in lubricating oil compositions and associated methods of preparation and use thereof. The compositions and methods can dissolve at least one of oxidation products and other organic polar compounds, due to lubricant degradation, formed and suspended in oil compositions including adding an effective amount of a solvency enhancer to the oils, wherein the solvency enhancer includes Guerbet alcohols. Further described are methods for dissolving organic deposits in an oil system including adding an effective amount of a solvency enhancer to the oil system, wherein the solvency enhancer includes Guerbet alcohols. Also provided are methods for preventing sludge and varnish formation in in-service oils including adding an effective amount of a solvency enhancer to the oils, wherein the solvency enhancer includes Guerbet alcohols.

Compositions prepared from an adduct of mono-maleated polyunsaturated vegetable oil and an alcohol mixture comprising a hydrophobic alcohol having at least 9 carbon atoms and methoxypolyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight (M.sub.n) of at least 350. Metalworking fluids comprising less than 3 wt % of a composition that is an adduct of mono-maleated polyunsaturated vegetable oil and an alcohol mixture comprising an alcohol having at least 2 carbon atoms and methoxypolyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight (M.sub.n) of at least 350. Methods of improving the stability and/or lubricity of a metalworking fluid using a composition that is adduct of mono-maleated polyunsaturated vegetable oil and an alcohol mixture comprising an alcohol having at least 2 carbon atoms and methoxypolyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight (M.sub.n) of at least 350.

A base oil includes an ester compound obtained by reacting a fatty acid component and a monohydric alcohol component. The fatty acid component includes a C.sub.4-C.sub.28 fatty acid. The monohydric alcohol component includes at least one C.sub.4-C.sub.22 straight chain monohydric alcohol and at least one C.sub.4-C.sub.22 branched chain monohydric alcohol. A lubricant oil composition including the base oil is also disclosed.

A base oil includes an ester compound obtained by reacting a fatty acid component and a monohydric alcohol component. The fatty acid component includes a C.sub.4-C.sub.28 fatty acid. The monohydric alcohol component includes at least one C.sub.4-C.sub.22 straight chain monohydric alcohol and at least one C.sub.4-C.sub.22 branched chain monohydric alcohol. A lubricant oil composition including the base oil is also disclosed.

A lubricant composition said composition comprising at least one base oil and from 1 to 70 wt % of at least one friction modifying additive, wherein the composition is such that the viscosity reversibly reduces at a pressure from 50 MPa to 3 GPa. A mechanical system comprising the lubricant composition; use of the lubricant composition and methods of reducing friction using the lubricant composition are also disclosed.