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: Compounded automatic transmission fluids having improved properties, including shear and viscosity properties, are obtained by the incorporation therein of alpha-olefin polymers of controlled molecular size and narrow molecular weight distribution. A shear stable, automatic transmission fluid having excellent high and low temperature viscosity properties and improved pour point is produced by adding the copolymer of 1-hexene and 1-octadecene to a lubricating oil.

Abstract: A homogeneous mixture of a polyanhydride and a polyepoxide is prepared by the copolymerization of an olefinically unsaturated monomer capable of polymerization by free-radical means with an olefinically unsaturated monoanhydride and an olefinically saturated polyanhydride in the presence of a polyepoxide and an anhydride accelerator without substantial anhydride-epoxide cross-linking. As an example, reinforcing glass fibers are impregnated with a solution of styrene, maleic anhydride, stryene-maleic anhydride copolymer, a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and 1-methylimidazole and the resin is thickened in situ by copolymerization of the styrene, maleic anhydride and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer to form a moldable, homogeneous mixture of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, 1-methylimidazole and reinforcing glass fibers.

Abstract: Homogeneous solutions of styrene, maleic anhydride and styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer having a low overall styrene content are prepared. These reactive solutions crosslink with polyfunctional reactants such as diepoxides to form thermoset resins.

Abstract: A process for preparing a concentrate of a polyalpha-olefin in a hydrotreated lubricating oil base stock by conditioning the base stock in the presence of hydrogen and a Ziegler-Natta type catalyst and then polymerizing an alpha-olefin in the conditioned, hydrotreated lubricating oil base stock as the reaction medium. The resulting concentrate of the polyalpha-olefin dissolved in the hydrotreated lubricating oil base stock is useful as an additive in preparing multiviscosity graded motor oils.

Abstract: A novel composition of an internal olefin or mixture of internal olefins having the formula R--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --C(R)=CH--C(R) (CH.sub.3)--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --R, where each R group is an alkyl group having from four to 12 carbon atoms and a minor amount of a lubricating oil anti-oxidant. A composition of 11,13-dioctyl-13-methyl-11-tricosene and two percent 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol is useful as a high temperature lubricant.

Abstract: A glycidyl ester, such as glycidyl methacrylate, is prepared by contacting an unsaturated fatty acid, such as methacrylic acid, with an alkali metal base in a first reaction zone to form an alkali metal salt, such as sodium methacrylate, in the presence of a solvent which will azeotrope with water and which is free of epoxide groups. Substantially all of the water is removed from the first reaction zone by, for example, removing a water-solvent azeotrope and, optionally, at least a portion of the solvent is removed. The alkali metal salt admixed with or suspended in at least a portion of the solvent is then contacted with a solid particulate drying agent free of halogen atoms and is thereafter reacted in a second reaction zone in the absence of the drying agent with dry epichlorohydrin under substantially anhydrous conditions to form the desired glycidyl ester.