Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

As an important lubricant additive, polymer-derived viscosity index (VI) improvers have been extensively used and play a critical role in enhancing the viscosity index and maintaining the all-season properties of lubricants. Owing to the drive for more gas-efficient, more environmentally friendly, lighter, and smaller engines for modern automobiles, in recent years there has been an increasingly stringent demand in the lubricant industry for superior polymer VI improvers, which possess strong viscosity thickening powers combined with high shear stability.This proposed CRD research aims at developing a novel series of functionalized high-molecular-weight hyperbranched polyethylenes for applications as superior VI improvers. Owing to their compact hyperbranched chain topology, this novel series of high-molecular-weight polymer VI improvers are anticipated to possess excellent viscosity thickening capacity and outstanding shear stability, which can impart the formulated lubricants with long life-time and low operating viscosity for enhanced fuel saving potentials.If proved successful, the polymers to be developed in this research will have the potential for applications in Canada's strategically important oil and lubricant industry and thus contribute to the economic growth. The fundamental knowledge to be generated in this research on polymer architecture-performance relationships will help lubricant industry develop advanced polymer additive technologies for lubricant formulations. This research will also lead to a significant fundamental advance in the area of design and functionalization of polyolefin materials. In addition, this industry-relevant research will also provide excellent training opportunities to our graduate students, who constitute the nation's future high-tech workforce.