The present invention relates to a continuous high-pressure polymerization process for the preparation of a liquid ethylene copolymer which comprises in polymerized form 20 to 60 wt % of ethylene; and at least 20 wt % of an acrylate, which is selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.22 alkyl (meth)acrylate, where a monomer feed comprising the ethylene and the acrylate is polymerized in the presence of at least 2 wt % of a chain transfer agent. The invention further relates to the liquid ethylene copolymer obtainable by the polymerization process; and to a lubricant comprising the liquid ethylene copolymer obtainable by the polymerization process; and to a method for reducing friction between moving surfaces comprising the step of contacting the surfaces with the lubricant or with the ethylene copolymer.

A comb copolymer viscosity modifier may be made by polymerization comprising at least, or consisting essentially of, the following monomers: (a) (optionally from 7.0 wt % to 18 wt %, by repeat units, of) a hydrogenated polybutadiene-based (alk)acrylate ester macromonomer; (b) (optionally from 33 wt % to 64 wt %, by repeat units, of) a C.sub.3-C.sub.8alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer; (c) a C.sub.12-C.sub.24 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer; and (d) (optionally from 3.0 wt % to 25 wt %, by repeat units, of) H-endcapped, C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl-endcapped, or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 aryl-, aralkyl-, or alkaryl-endcapped C.sub.2-C.sub.6 oxyalkyl or C.sub.2-C.sub.6 oligo(alkylene glycol)-based (alk)acrylate ester monomer, wherein repeat units based on monomer (c) and/or monomer (d) comprise at least 21.0 wt % (and optionally up to 35.0 wt %) of repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier. Lubricant compositions comprising the comb copolymer viscosity modifier, as well as uses thereof and methods for modifying viscosity and dispersancy, are also contemplated.

The present invention provides a poly(meth)acrylate-based viscosity index improver comprising a core portion and three or more arm portions, wherein each of the arm portions consists of a polymer chain comprising a structural unit represented by the following formula (1), and one end of the polymer chain is bonded to the core portion, and wherein a weight-average molecular weight Mw is 100000 or more, and a ratio of the weight-average molecular weight Mw to a number average molecular weight Mn, Mw/Mn, is 1.6 or less. ##STR00001## [R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or a methyl group, and R.sup.2 represents a C1 to C36 alkyl group.]

A comb copolymer viscosity modifier may be made by polymerization comprising at least, or consisting essentially of, the following monomers: (a) (optionally from 7.0 wt % to 18 wt %, by repeat units, of) a hydrogenated polybutadiene-based (alk)acrylate ester macromonomer; (b) (optionally from 33 wt % to 64 wt % or from 38 wt % to 58 wt %, by repeat units, of) a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer; (c) (optionally up to 35.0 wt %, by repeat units, of) a C.sub.12-C.sub.24 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer; and (d) (optionally from 3.0 wt % to 27 wt %, by repeat units, of) a C.sub.6-C.sub.20 aryl, aralkyl, or alkaryl (alk)acrylate ester monomer, such that a sum of repeat units due to (c) plus (d) constitute at least 21.0 wt % of repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier. Lubricant compositions comprising the comb copolymer viscosity modifier, as well as uses thereof and methods for modifying viscosity and dispersancy, are also contemplated.

The invention provides a lubricating composition comprising an oil of lubricating viscosity and synergistic mixture of a functionalized ethylene-α-olefin copolymer, a poly(meth)acrylate block polymer having a substantially oil soluble block and a substantially oil insoluble block. The invention also provides a method of lubricating a mechanical device using such a lubricating composition.

A comb copolymer viscosity modifier may be made by polymerization comprising at least, or consisting essentially of, the following monomers: (a) a hydrogenated polybutadiene-based (alk)acrylate ester macromonomer (which repeat units may comprise from 7.0 wt % to 18 wt % of the repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier); (b) a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer (which repeat units may comprise from 40 wt % to 71 wt % or from 45 wt % to 64 wt % of the repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier); and (c) a C.sub.12-C.sub.24 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer, wherein repeat units based on the C.sub.12-C.sub.24 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer comprise at least 21.0 wt % (and optionally up to 35.0 wt %) of repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier. Lubricant compositions comprising the comb copolymer viscosity modifier, as well as uses thereof and methods for modifying viscosity, are also contemplated herein.

A comb copolymer viscosity modifier may be made by polymerization comprising at least, or consisting essentially of, the following monomers: (a) a hydrogenated polybutadiene-based (alk)acrylate ester macromonomer (which repeat units may comprise from 7.0 wt % to 18 wt % of the repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier); (b) a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer (which repeat units may comprise from 40 wt % to 71 wt % or from 45 wt % to 64 wt % of the repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier); and (c) a C.sub.12-C.sub.24 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer, wherein repeat units based on the C.sub.12-C.sub.24 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer comprise at least 21.0 wt % (and optionally up to 35.0 wt %) of repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier. Lubricant compositions comprising the comb copolymer viscosity modifier, as well as uses thereof and methods for modifying viscosity, are also contemplated herein.

A comb copolymer viscosity modifier may be made by polymerization comprising at least, or consisting essentially of, the following monomers: (a) (optionally from 7.0 wt % to 18 wt %, by repeat units, of) a hydrogenated polybutadiene-based (alk)acrylate ester macromonomer; (b) (optionally from 33 wt % to 64 wt % or from 38 wt % to 58 wt %, by repeat units, of) a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer; (c) (optionally up to 35.0 wt %, by repeat units, of) a C.sub.12-C.sub.24 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer; and (d) (optionally from 3.0 wt % to 27 wt %, by repeat units, of) a C.sub.6-C.sub.20 aryl, aralkyl, or alkaryl (alk)acrylate ester monomer, such that a sum of repeat units due to (c) plus (d) constitute at least 21.0 wt % of repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier. Lubricant compositions comprising the comb copolymer viscosity modifier, as well as uses thereof and methods for modifying viscosity and dispersancy, are also contemplated.

A comb copolymer viscosity modifier may be made by polymerization comprising at least, or consisting essentially of, the following monomers: (a) (optionally from 7.0 wt % to 18 wt %, by repeat units, of) a hydrogenated polybutadiene-based (alk)acrylate ester macromonomer; (b) (optionally from 33 wt % to 64 wt %, by repeat units, of) a C.sub.3-C.sub.8 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer; (c) a C.sub.12-C.sub.24 alkyl (alk)acrylate ester monomer; and (d) (optionally from 3.0 wt % to 25 wt %, by repeat units, of) H-endcapped, C.sub.1-C.sub.18 alkyl-endcapped, or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 aryl-, aralkyl-, or alkaryl-endcapped C.sub.2-C.sub.6 oxyalkyl or C.sub.2-C.sub.6 oligo(alkylene glycol)-based (alk)acrylate ester monomer, wherein repeat units based on monomer (c) and/or monomer (d) comprise at least 21.0 wt % (and optionally up to 35.0 wt %) of repeat units of the comb copolymer viscosity modifier. Lubricant compositions comprising the comb copolymer viscosity modifier, as well as uses thereof and methods for modifying viscosity and dispersancy, are also contemplated.

The present invention relates to a continuous high-pressure polymerization process for the preparation of a liquid ethylene copolymer which comprises in polymerized form 20 to 60 wt % of ethylene; and at least 20 wt % of an acrylate, which is selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.22 alkyl (meth)acrylate, where a monomer feed comprising the ethylene and the acrylate is polymerized in the presence of at least 2 wt % of a chain transfer agent. The invention further relates to the liquid ethylene copolymer obtainable by the polymerization process; and to a lubricant comprising the liquid ethylene copolymer obtainable by the polymerization process; and to a method for reducing friction between moving surfaces comprising the step of contacting the surfaces with the lubricant or with the ethylene copolymer.