POLYMER FORMULATIONS IN SOLVENTS WITH A HIGH FLASHPOINT, PROCESSES FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF AND USE THEREOF AS POUR POINT DEPRESSANTS FOR CRUDE OILS, MINERAL OILS OR MINERAL OIL PRODUCTS

摘要

Polymer formulations comprising at least two different solvents having a flashpoint ≧60° C., and polymeric compositions obtainable by free-radical polymerization of at least one alkyl (meth)acrylate in the presence of at least one ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer. Multistage process for producing such formulations and the use of such formulations as pour point depressants for crude oils, mineral oils or mineral oil products.

主权项

1. A process for producing a polymer formulation at least comprising
two different solvents and a polymeric composition obtainable by free-radical polymerization of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer (A) in the presence of at least one ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer (B),
the monomers (A) comprising at least 70% by weight - based on the amount of all monomers (A)—of at least one alkyl (meth)acrylate (A1) of the general formula H2C=CR1-COOR2where R1 is H or a methyl group and R2 is a linear alkyl radical having 12 to 60 carbon atoms,the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymers (B) comprising 55 to 85% by weight of ethylene and 15 to 45% by weight of vinyl esters of the general formula H2C=CH-O-(O)C-R3 (III) where R3 is H or a C1- to C4 hydrocarbyl radical, andthe amount of the monomers (A) being 70 to 90% by weight and that of the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymers (B) 10 to 30% by weight based on the sum of the monomers (A) and the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymers (B) together, wherein the solvents comprise a nonpolar solvent (S1) comprising saturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups and having a flashpoint ≧60° C., and an aromatic hydrocarbon (S2) having a flashpoint >60° C., said process comprising: (I) providing a solution at least comprising monomers (A) and ethylene-vinyl ester copolymers (B) each in the abovementioned amounts in at least one solvent (S1), and (II) free-radically polymerizing the monomers (A) in the presence of the ethylene-vinyl ester copolymers (B) by addition of at least one thermally decomposing initiator for the free-radical polymerization to the solution obtained in (I) and polymerizing at a temperature of at least 50° C., the reaction medium being diluted with solvent (S2) during and/or after the polymerization.