Copolymers of Maleic Anhydride and Methylene Alkanes: Synthesis, Modification, and Pour Point Depressant Properties

Abstract

Copolymers with the equimolar composition and presumably alternating microstructure are synthesized by the radical copolymerization of methylene alkanes, the products of dimerization of α-olefins with the general formula RCH2CH2C(=CH2)R (R = n-C4H7, n-C6H13, n-C8H17, n-C10H21, n-C12H25), with maleic anhydride. The products of reactions between the obtained copolymers and 1-octadecanamine or 1-octadecanol are isolated and spectrally characterized. The depressor efficiency of the copolymers with respect to the solutions of paraffins in n-alkanes is studied. Qualitative differences between the copolymers of maleic anhydride with methylene alkanes and reference copolymers based on 1-octadecene are estimated using vibrational viscometry combined with analysis of the size and morphology of paraffin crystals. It is shown that the copolymers with methylene alkanes more effectively decrease the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of paraffin solutions in n-decane.