Inventors:
Stanley J. Brois - Westfield NJ
Abhimanyu O. Patil - Westfield NJ
Wolfgang W. Schulz - Lebanon NJ
Chang S. Hsu - Bridgewater NJ
Richard T. Garner - Berkeley Heights NJ
Assignee:
Exxon Research & Engineering Co. - Florham Park NJ
International Classification:
C10M12700
Abstract:
This invention relates to novel compositions of matter comprising free radical adducts of a fullerene with one or more saturated hydrocarbons having a number average molecular weight ranging from about 200 to about ten million. Attachment of saturated hydrocarbons to as many as fourteen sites on the fullerene surface can be achieved via free radical initiated reactions. Fullerenes also add to saturated hydrocarbons with functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, carboxy, and carboalkoxy radicals in the presence of a free radical initiator. Said radical adducts of substantially saturated hydrocarbons with fullerenes react further with alkylamines and polyamines to produce new compositions. The radical adducts, and their aminated derivatives are useful as dispersants and viscosity modifiers in lubricants. In the presence of free radical initiators, said fullerenes can also crosslink substantially saturated polymers having number average molecular weight ranging from about 50,000 to about 500,000.