Abstract: A synthetic lubricant material is produced by forming a catalyst complex of a boron trifluoride catalyst and at least one alcohol promoter in the absence of olefinic monomer, then oligomerizing a C.sub.4-16 olefinic monomer by adding the olefinic monomer to a reaction vessel containing the catalyst complex, under boron trifluoride pressure, to produce an oligomer product. At least 50 weight % of the olefinic monomer is C.sub.8-16 olefinic monomer.

Abstract: A dimer composition has an improved low temperature viscosity if it has less than a certain amount of normal paraffin. A 1-octene dimer should have less than 0.50 wt. % normal hexadecane, a 1-decene dimer should have less than 0.05 wt. % normal eicosane, a 1-dodecene dimer should have less than 0.60 wt. % normal tetracosane, and a 1-tetradecene dimer should have less than 0.10 wt. % normal octacosane.

Abstract: An oligomer is made by contacting an olefinic monomer with a catalyst comprising boron trifluoride, an alcohol alkoxylate, and a ketone. In one embodiment, the olefinic monomer is a straight-chain, .alpha.-olefinic monomer containing from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, the alcohol alkoxylate is 2-ethoxyethanol, the ketone is methyl ethyl ketone, and the oligomer product has a kinematic viscosity at 100.degree. C. of less than 1.7 cSt. Before removal of unreacted monomer, the oligomer product is at least 50 wt. % dimer, at least 80 wt. % dimer plus trimer, and less than 3.25 wt. % tetramer and greater.

Abstract: An oligomer is made by contacting a straight-chain, .alpha.-olefinic monomer with boron trifluoride and a hydroxy carbonyl promoter. The hydroxy carbonyl is preferably a .beta.-hydroxy-ketone, such as 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone. A second promoter can be used in conjunction with the boron trifluoride and the hydroxy carbonyl promoter. Possible secondary promoters include aldehydes, alcohols, alcohol alkoxylates, carboxylic acids, ethers, ketones, and their mixtures. Preferably the oligomer product has a kinematic viscosity at 100.degree. C. of less than 1.7 cSt; has a dimer to trimer and higher oligomer ratio of at least 1:1; and is at least 90 wt. % dimer and trimer of the monomer.

Abstract: An alpha-olefin oligomer synthetic lubricant having an improved viscosity-volatility relationship is prepared from an alpha-olefin such as 1-decene.

Abstract: A method of homopolymerizing a 1-olefin to a product including the trimer and tetramer by utilizing boron trifluoride under pressure in the presence of a suspended particulate adsorbent material. For example, 1-decene is homopolymerized at a temperature of about 25.degree. C. in the presence of a suspension of about two weight percent silica and boron trifluoride at a pressure of 125 psi.

Abstract: The trimer to tetramer ratio of an alpha-olefin oligomer is varied over a significant range in a continuous, multi-stage alpha-olefin oligomerization process including a series of at least two flow-through tank reactors by controlling the amount of conversion taking place in each stage. The multi-stage process is used to prepare various poly(l-decene) oligomer mixtures having different oligomer proportions for use as synthetic lubricants.

Abstract: The trimer to tetramer ratio of an alpha-olefin oligomer is varied over a significant range in a continuous, multi-stage alpha-olefin oligomerization process including a first stage tank reactor and a final tube reactor by controlling the amount of conversion taking place in each stage. The multi-stage process is used to prepare various poly(l-decene) oligomer mixtures having different oligomer proportions for use as synthetic lubricants.

Abstract: An alpha-olefin oligomer synthetic lubricant having an improved viscosity-volatility relationship is prepared from an alpha-olefin such as 1-decene.

Abstract: A polymerization reaction product comprising a solution of a poly(1-alkene) and a hydrocarbon polymerization solvent is purified of Ziegler-Natta aluminum and titanium containing catalyst residue by treating with flux-calcined diatomite to deactivate and insolubilize the aluminum and titanium and filtering out the insolubilized aluminum and titanium.