Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Polymer – Used as a Pour Point Depressant for Lubricating Oil

Abstract Additives based on polymers of alkyl methacrylate used in lubricant composition improve the viscometric and rheological properties of the lubricant and provide fuel economy. They are also looked upon to provide additional performance characteristics such as improved low temperature fluidity, dispersancy and thickening. However, the recent demand for eco-friendly technology guided us to incorporate the sunflower chemistry into the acrylate skeleton through the process of copolymerization in anticipation of getting an ideal blend of performance as well as eco-friendly chemistry. The present investigation comprises the homo and copolymerization of sunflower oil with different mass fraction of methyl methcrylate (MMA), decyl acrylate (DA) and styrene, characterizations and their evaluations as a pour point depressant in base oils. Keywords: base oilbiodegradable additivescopolymerpour pointviscometric studies