| abstract |
Atactic copolymers derived from an alpha-olefin, optionally ethylene and a non-conjugated diene are provided. The units derived from the diene provide pendant groups having internal or terminal double bonds. Suitable dienes for preparing such copolymers include: CH2=C(R?1)-R2-C(R3)=CH¿2, CH2=C(R?1)-R4-C(R3¿)=CH-CH¿3?, wherein R?1 and R3¿ are indenpendently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group, R?2 and R4¿ are alkylene moieties having a chain length of at least 3 carbon atoms and at least 1 carbon atom respectively, or a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of the Formulae: =CR?5R6, -CR7=CH¿2, wherein R?5 and R6 and R7¿ are independently selected from hydrogen or a C¿1?-C3 alkyl. Also provided are processes for the functionalisation of the atactic copolymers and their use as lubricating oil additives. |