CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

摘要

A continuously variable transmission fluid comprising a hydrogenated cyclic dimer of alpha-alkyl styrene and a low temperature viscosity control agent. The fluid does not contain more than 20 wt. % of a linear dimer of the alpha-alkyl styrene, and the fluid has a kinematic viscosity of greater than about 2.5x10<-6> m<2>/s at 100 °C. The dimerized alpha-alkyl styrene can be made by (a) contacting an alpha-alkyl styrene with a supported acid catalyst to effect oligomerization of the alpha-alkyl styrene to a cyclic dimer of the alpha-alkyl styrene; and (b) hydrogenating the cyclic dimer in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to produce a fully hydrogenated cyclic dimer, wherein the alpha-alkyl styrene is contacted with the supported acid catalyst in the absence of a solvent for the alpha-alkyl styrene and a free acid.