Ultra-low viscosity synthetic fluids composition with improved properties

Abstract

The present invention relates to ultra-low viscosity polyalphaolefin (PAO) compositions having a kinematic viscosity at 100°C below 1.7 cSt, low pour point, and high flash point properties, as well as an improved process for the selective production of the claimed PAO composition.

Description

ULTRA-LOW VISCOSITY SYNTHETIC FLUIDS COMPOSITIONWITH IMPROVED PROPERTIESCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from United States Provisional Application No. 63 / 626,014, filed July 23, 2024, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to ultra-low viscosity polyalphaolefin (PAO) compositions characterized by very low viscosity, low pour point, and high flash point properties. More particularly, the invention provides a PAO composition having a kinematic viscosity at 100°C below 1.7 cSt and an improved selective process to produce the aforesaid composition from alpha olefin monomers containing from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.2. Description of the Prior Art

[0003] Oligomers of alpha olefins (also known as linear alpha olefins or vinyl olefins), processes for their production and their use in the formulation of synthetic and semi-synthetic lubricants are known in the art. A few representative methods for making PAO oligomers include the following U.S. Patent Numbers: 3,682,823; 3,763,244; 3,769,363; 3,780,123; 3,798,284; 3,884,988; 3,097,924; 3,997,621; 4,045,507; and 4,045,508.

[0004] Traditionally, the alpha olefin oligomers that have proved useful as synthetic base fluids are prepared mainly from linear terminal olefins containing about 8-14 carbon atoms such as 1 -octene, 1 -decene, 1 -dodecene, 1- tetradecene and mixtures thereof. One of the most widely used alpha olefins is 1 -decene which can be used alone or in a mixture with other alpha olefins. When linear alpha olefins are employed, the oligomer products comprise mixtures which include varying amounts of dimer, trimer, tetramer, pentamer and higher oligomers. The oligomer products are typically hydrogenated to improve thermal and oxidative stability and must be further fractionated to be useful for specific applications. Such hydrogenated and fractionated oligomer products are known for their superior performance, long use-life, low volatility, low pour points, and high viscosity indexes.

[0005] In a conventional polyalphaolefin process, product kinematic viscosities can be adjusted by either removing or adding higher or lower oligomers to provide a composition having the desired viscosity for a particular application. Viscosities in the range of 2 to 150 centistokes (cSt) at 100°C are commonly required, with preferred typical low viscosity fluids being in the range of 2 to 10 cSt. The lowest viscosity grade commercially available from INEOS Oligomers is currently Durasyn-162 (DS-162) which has a viscosity of 1.7 cSt at 100°C.

[0006] There is a desire to produce even lower viscosity polyalphaolefin (PAO) fluids than commercially available DS-162, especially useful in energy saving applications to minimize friction and improve thermal heat management in applications that PAO fluid can be the main medium or a component of any medium to efficiently remove heat from equipment that generates heat such as an engine, transmission, clutch, gear boxes of any kind, axel, battery, chargingstations, electronic components other than batteries, data centers and immersion cooling applications, transformer oils, and the likes. This is particularly useful in the energy transition away from fossil fuels and as it relates to electric vehicles (EVs) for all their lubrication systems. Improved efficiency and thermal management properties benefit the EV driveline / transmission particularly when combining low viscosity along with good flash point, exceptionally low pour point properties, low traction coefficients, and improved oxidative properties. Additionally, advanced battery thermal management systems in direct (or indirect) contact battery cooling, and in electrical charging stations cooling applications benefit from these properties as well.

[0007] Other useful applications include electronics heat management system particularly in data centers in immersion cooling and in supercomputing cooling centers, crypto mining, and the likes. Other uses include low viscosity cosmetic applications that can benefit from the odorless and hydrophobic properties of these fluids.

[0008] While a large market exists for low viscosity PAO synthetic lubricant base stocks having kinematic viscosity ranging from about 1.7 to 10 cSt at 100°C, little attention has been made to PAO fluid having viscosities below 1.7 cSt at 100°C in the field of traditional alpha olefins oligomerization with typical Friedel-Crafts catalyst such as BF3 along with an alcohol promoter. As such, DS- 162 with a nominal 100°C viscosity at 1.7 -1.8 cSt is currently the lowest commercially available viscosity PAO grade from INOES Oligomers, it is decene-based and produced as a co-product by fractionation / distillation along with other PAO product grades e.g. 4, 6, or 8 cSt; DS- 162 is nearly pure C20 composition.

[0009] However, to produce a PAO having a viscosity below 1.7 cSt would require employing alpha olefins lighter than 1 -decene (CIO) such as 1 -octene (C8), 1-hexene (C6), 1-butene (C4) and the likes. Additionally, a selective process is highly desirable to produce an average oligomer composition which must have lower than C20 in composition to render a kinematic viscosity below 1.7 cSt at 100°C or through fractionation of lighter than C20 components from the oligomer mix. The latter option through fractionation can create undesired co-products.

[0010] It is therefore the object of this invention to selectively produce a functional ultra-low viscosity fluid composition characterized by having a kinematic viscosity at 100°C below 1.7 cSt, pour point lower than -40°C, and a flash point above 100°C from alpha olefin monomers containing from 4-8 carbon atoms.

[0011] Prior art methods of peaking the oligomer compositions at dimer with catalyst comprising boron trifluoride with an alcohol alkoxylate with monomer containing 6 to 20 carbons atoms have been disclosed by Theriot US 5,068,487 and further process / product improvements by Bagheri et al. Case 50168 with supporting examples wherein dimer to trimer ratio of greater than 1 or compositions that constitute at least 50% dimeric fraction in the oligomer mix; specific examples ranging from C8-C14 alpha olefins such as 1-Octene (C8), 1- decene( C10)m 1-dodecene (C 12), and 1-teradecne (C14) were demonstrated. We wish to disclose further in this invention an unexpected process and composition with trimer peaking instead of dimer peaking when employing 1 - hexene (C6) and lower alpha olefin monomers such as 1 -pentene (C5), 1-butene (C4), and propylene (C3) alone or in mixtures thereof with catalyst comprising boron trifluoride with an alcohol alkoxylate promoter.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention claims a functional ultra-low viscosity polyalphaolefin (PAO) fluid composition characterized by having a kinematic viscosity 100°C below 1.7 cSt (as determined by ASTM- D445 method), pour point lower than -20°C (as detennine by ASTM- D97 method), and a flash point above 100°C (as determined by ASTM- D92 method) from alpha olefin monomers containing from 4-8 carbon atoms and a selective process to produce the aforesaid composition.

[0013] More specifically the invention relates to a functional ultra-low viscosity polyalphaolefin (PAO) fluid composition characterized by having a kinematic viscosity 100°C in the range of about 1.1 -1.7 cSt to (as determined by ASTM- D445 method), a pour point lower than -40°C (as determine by ASTM- D97 method), and a flash point above 100°C (as determined by ASTM- D92 method) from alpha olefin monomers containing from 4-8 carbon atoms and a selective process to produce the aforesaid composition.

[0014] This is particularly useful in applications when lower than C20 carbon PAO fluid compositions is desired having a kinematic viscosity below 1.7 cSt at 100°C which we have demonstrated with fluids of this invention by peaking of 1 -hexene (C6) oligomerization at trimer / C18 achieving desired properties. Additionally, compositions containing synthetic oligomers based on 1 -octene (C8) whereas average oligomer distribution is peaked at dimer / C16, having greater than 50% C16, made by cationic BF3 / promoters, alkylaluminiumselective dimerization, or metallocene / activators-based chemistries provide viscosities below C20 comparative with lower than 1.7 cSt viscosity at 100°C.

[0015] Composition with kinematic viscosities below 1.7 cSt 100°C are particularly useful in the energy transition away from fossil fuels and as it relates to electric vehicles (EVs) for all their lubrication systems. Improved efficiency and thermal management properties benefit the EV driveline / transmission particularly when combining low viscosity along with good flash point, exceptionally low pour point properties, low traction coefficients, and improved oxidative properties. Additionally, advanced battery thermal management systems in direct (or indirect) contact battery cooling, and in electrical charging stations cooling applications benefit from these properties as well.

[0016] Other useful applications include electronics heat management system particularly in data centers in immersion cooling and in supercomputing cooling centers, artificial intelligence (Al) related applications, crypto mining, and the likes.

[0017] Other useful properties of the preferred compositions of this invention include expected high biodegradability stemming from the ultra-low viscosity of the aforesaid compositions having a kinematic viscosity at 100°C in the range of about 1.1 to 1.7 cSt.

[0018] Finally, the PAO fluids of this invention can be used as olefins or hydrogenated to bring about additional oxidative stabilities, can be used either alone or in any combinations with other lubricating oils (Group I, Group II, Group III, Group III+ mineral oils, GTL, esters for instance) in any othertraditional lubricant formulations including but not limited to engine oils, transmission oils, industrial gear oils, metal working fluid, marine lubricants, general hydraulic oils, transformer oils, robotic lubes, greases, axle oils, aviation and space application lubricants and the likes.

[0019] Formulations of this invention can be made with or without additives such as dispersants, antioxidants, anti-wear agents, anti-foam, corrosion inhibitors, detergents, seal swell agents and viscosity index improvers.DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present invention claims a functional ultra-low viscosity polyalphaolefin (PAO) fluid composition characterized by having a kinematic viscosity 100°C below 1.7 cSt (as determined by ASTM- D445 method), pour point lower than -20°C (as determine by ASTM- D97 method), and a flash point above 100°C (as detennined by ASTM- D92 method) from alpha olefin monomers containing from 4-8 carbon atoms and a selective process to produce the aforesaid composition.

[0021] More specifically the invention relates to a functional ultra-low viscosity polyalphaolefin (PAO) fluid composition characterized by having a kinematic viscosity 100°C in the range of about 1.1 -1.7 cSt to (as detennined by ASTM- D445 method), a pour point lower than -40°C (as detennine by ASTM- D97 method), and a flash point above 100°C (as determined by ASTM- D92 method) from alpha olefin monomers containing from 4-8 carbon atoms and a selective process to produce the aforesaid composition.

[0022] This is particularly useful in applications when lower than C20 carbon PAO fluid compositions is desired having a kinematic viscosity below 1.7 cSt at 100°C which we have demonstrated with fluids of this invention by peaking of 1-hexene (C6) oligomerization at trimer / C18 achieving desired properties. Additionally, compositions containing synthetic oligomers based on 1 -octene (C8) whereas average oligomer distribution is peaked at dimer / C16, having greater than 50% C16, made by cationic BF3 / promoters, alkylaluminium selective dimerization, or metallocene / activators-based chemistries provide viscosities below C20 comparative with lower than 1.7 cSt viscosity at 100°C.

[0023] Composition with kinematic viscosities below 1.7 cSt 100°C are particularly useful in the energy transition away from fossil fuels and as it relates to electric vehicles (EVs) for all their lubrication systems. Improved efficiency and thermal management properties benefit the EV driveline / transmission particularly when combining low viscosity along with good flash point, exceptionally low pour point properties, low traction coefficients, and improved oxidative properties. Additionally, advanced battery thermal management systems in direct (or indirect) contact battery cooling, and in electrical charging stations cooling applications benefit from these properties as well.

[0024] Other useful applications include electronics heat management system such as and particularly in data centers in immersion cooling, and in supercomputing cooling centers, artificial intelligence (Al) related applications, crypto mining, and the likes in direct or indirect contact cooling applications.

[0025] Other useful properties of the preferred compositions of this invention include expected high biodegradability stemming from the ultra-low viscosityof the aforesaid compositions having a kinematic viscosity at 100°C in the range of about 1.1 to about 1.7 cSt.

[0026] The PAO fluids of this invention can be used as olefins or hydrogenated to bring about additional oxidative stabilities, can be used either alone or in any combinations with other lubricating oils (Group I, Group II, Group III, Group III+ mineral oils, GTL, esters for instance). It is most useful in the cited applications but also can be used in any other traditional lubricant formulations including but not limited to engine oils, transmission oils, industrial gear oils, metal working fluid, marine lubricants, general hydraulic oils, transformer oils, robotic lubes, greases, axle oils, and in aviation and space lubricant applications and the likes.

[0027] Formulations of this invention can be made with or without additives such as dispersants, antioxidants, anti-wear agents, anti-foam, corrosion inhibitors, detergents, seal swell agents and viscosity index improvers.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the fluid of this invention is produced by the cationic oligomerization of 1 -octene (C8) peaked at dimer / C16 having dimer content of >50% in the oligomer mix produced by using a boron trifluoride catalyst and an alcohol alkoxylate (Ra-O-CHRb-CHRc-O-)n-H co-catalyst or “promoter” to yield a fluid that, following hydrogenation, has a kinematic viscosity of from about 1.6 mm2 / s at or lower at 100° C for use in the cited applications.

[0029] In another preferred embodiment, the fluid of this invention is produced by the cationic oligomerization of 1 -hexene (C6) peaked at trimer / C18 having a trimer / C18 content of >50% in the oligomer mix produced by using a borontrifluoride catalyst and an alcohol alkoxylate (Ra-O-CHRb-CHRc-O-)n-H cocatalyst or “promoter” to yield a fluid that, following hydrogenation, has a kinematic viscosity of lower than 1.6 cSt and most preferably about 1.4 mm2 / s or lower at 100° C based on the aforesaid process with trimer content of >50% and the use of these fluids in cited applications.

[0030] For the alcohol alkoxylate (Ra-O-CHRb-CHRc-O-)n-H, Rais hydrocarbyl containing from 1 to 24 carbons, including mixtures thereof, Rb and Rc are independently hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, and n averages 1 to 15. Preferred alcohol alkoxylate promoters include 2 -methoxy ethanol and 1 -methoxylpropanol.

[0031] In another preferred embodiment of this invention, 1-octene (C8) dimer namely 2-n-hexyl-l -decene or its hydrogenated analog is claimed for use in the cited applications. It (2-n-hexyl-l -decene) is prepared in a selective process by contacting Cs alpha olefin with an aluminum alkyl catalyst such as triethylaluminium and the like as described in US Patent No. 8,455,416, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the dimer is prepared by contacting Cg alpha olefin with a Periodic Group IVB metallocene catalyst activated with organoaluminium compounds and / or hydrocarbyl boron compounds as described in US 6,548,723, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In the latter metallocene process, pure or nearly pure 2-n-hexyl-l -decene can be isolated by fractionating / distillation from the oligomeric mixtures. Pure or nearly pure (with 80% purity or grater) 2-n-hexyl-l -decene or its hydrogenated analog has a viscosity below 1.6 mm2 / s 100° C and most preferably in the range of about 1.1 to about 1.2 cSt 100° C which is most suited for the cited applications.

[0032] In C6 and C8 oligomerization with a catalyst system containing boron trifluoride and an alcohol alkoxylate (Ra-O-CHRb-CHRc-O-)n-H promoter the final polyalphaolefin fluids of the invention are prepared without any coproducts in which only the residual unreacted monomers are removed by distillation. Alternatively, any oligomeric fractions such as dimer or trimer components may be fractionated independently by distillation.

[0033] The polyalphaolefin fluid of the invention is suitable for use as a base fluid, either alone or with other petroleum derived mineral lubricating oils (i.e. Group I, Group II, Group III, Group III+mineral oils), synthetic oils derived from methane using Fischer Tropshe catalysis (i.e. Gas to Liquids fluids or Coal to Liquids fluids for instance).

[0034] Moreover, the polyalphaolefins of the invention may be used in any lubricant type where vegetable esters, estolides, or natural / synthetic ester derivatives find application. Marine stem tube lubricants, open gear oils, wire rope oils, forestry oils, and hydraulic fluids are all applications which can benefit from the addition of the polyalphaolefins of this invention. Oils in this category can be made to be significantly biodegradable by the proper choice of additives and thickeners.Examples

[0035] Commercially produced 1 -hexene (Ce) and 1 -octene (Cg) from INEOS Oligomers was used as received; it can be substituted from other suppliers. All process steps can be conducted in batch, semi-batch, or in a continuous manner. The reaction can be run in continuous mode employing 2-5 continuous stirred tank reactors (CST) in series or parallel or a combination thereof.Durasyn-162 Comparative Properties:

[0036] Commercially available Durasyn-162 (DS -162) from INEOS Oligomers is produced by fractionation / distillation to nearly pure C20 component in the conventional Decene (CIO) oligomerization process which has a 100°C viscosity of about 1.7 cSt as shown in Table 1 below. DS- 162 is currently (at the time this patent writing) the lowest viscosity PAO grade commercially available from INEOS Oligomer:TABLE 1; Properties DS-162Invention Example 1 :

[0037] To a 1 -gallon Parr reactor equipped with jacketed heating and internal cooling was charged with 1,200 g 1 -octene and 2.0 g of l-methoxy-2 -propanol (1-MOP) and was heated to 50°C with stirring. Boron trifluoride (BF3) was introduced as a gas, and it was adjusted to a steady state pressure of 20 psig.The reaction was stirred for 120 minutes. The reaction mixture quenched with 400 ml of 8% NaOH and then washed with distilled water. Removal of the residual unreacted monomer as a volatile overhead fraction under reduced pressure resulted in a yield of about 94% (< 6% unreacted residual monomer as distillation overhead) of a clear fluid as the bottoms fraction which was hydrogenated under a set of standard hydrogenation conditions (at 170°C, 400 psi hydrogen, using Ni on Kieselguhr catalyst) to produce a synthetic base stock of the invention having the following properties:TABLE 2: Properties - Example 1

[0038] The entire oligomer composition of Example 1 above (after removal of residual monomer followed by hydrogenation) has a 100°C viscosity of 1.59 cSt which is useful for the cited applications whereas a viscosity below DS- 162 is desired. It is also a very efficient production process as it is produced without any other co-products. Gas Chromatographic (GC) analysis of this mixture shows typical expected dimer peaking typical of 1-MOP promoter BF3 catalyst system with dimer / trimer ratio of >1 and the following compositions:Dimer / C16: 56%Trimer / C24: 37%Tertamer / C32: 6%Pentamer / C40: 1%Invention Example 2;

[0039] 1 -octene (C8) dimer namely 2-n-hexyl-l -decene is prepared selectively by contacting Cg alpha olefin with an aluminum alkyl catalyst such as triethylaluminium and the like as described in US Patent No. 8,455,416, it has the following properties as shown in Table 3:TABLE 3- Example 2

[0040] The hydrogenated analog of Example 2 (according to the same hydrogenation procedure as described in Example 1) has al00°C viscosity of 1.17 cSt and a Flash Point of 131 °C. Compositions such as Example 2 and its hydrogenated analog with a al00°C viscosity in the range of about 1.1 -1.2 cSt are useful for herein cited applications whereas a viscosity below DS -162 is desired. Alternatively, the dimer (2-n-hexyl-l -decene) is prepared by contacting Cg alpha olefin with a Periodic Group IVB metallocene catalystactivated with organoaluminium compounds and / or hydrocarbyl boron compounds as described in US 6,548,723. In the latter metallocene process, pure or nearly pure 2-n-hexyl-l -decene can be isolated by fractionating / distillation from the oligomeric mixtures. Pure or nearly pure (with 80% purity or grater) 2-n-hexyl-l-decene or its hydrogenated analog has a viscosity below 1.6 mm2 / s 100° C and most preferably in the range of about 1.1 to about 1.2 cSt 100° C which is suited for the cited applications.Comparative Example 3;

[0041] To a 1 -gallon Parr reactor equipped with jacketed heating and internal cooling was charged with 1,400 g 1 -hexene and 3.5 g of 1 -butanol (1-BuOH) and was heated to 30°C with stirring. Boron trifluoride (BF3) was introduced as a gas, and it was adjusted to a steady state pressure of 20 psig. The reaction was stirred for 120 minutes. The reaction mixture quenched with 400 ml of 8% NaOH and then washed with distilled water. Removal of the residual unreacted monomer as a volatile overhead fraction by distillation resulted in a yield of >99% of a clear fluid as the bottoms (< 1% unreacted residual monomer as distillation overhead) producing a synthetic base stock having the following properties shown in Table 4:TABLE 4: Properties — Comparative Example 3

[0042] The entire oligomer composition of Comparative Example 3 above (after removal of residual monomer followed by hydrogenation) has a 100°C viscosity of 2.05 cSt which is above that of typical DS-162. The oligomer distribution of this Comparative Example shown below is typical of the BF3 catalyst system with normal alcohol promoters such 1 -BuOH, propanol and the likes with 1 -hexene alpha olefin under this condition, it has the following the following composition:Dimer / C12: 2%Trimer / C18: 35%Tertamer / C24: 33%Pentamer / C30: 19%Heavier >C30: 11%Invention Example 4:

[0043] To a 1 -gallon Parr reactor equipped with jacketed heating and internal cooling was charged with 1,200 g 1 -hexene and 2.0 g of l-methoxy-2 -propanol (1-MOP) and was heated to 30°C with stirring. Boron trifluoride (BF3) was introduced as a gas, and it was adjusted to a steady state pressure of 20 psig. The reaction was stirred for 120 minutes. The reaction mixture quenched with 400 ml of 8% NaOH and then washed with distilled water. Removal of the residual unreacted monomer as a volatile overhead fraction by distillation resulted in a yield of 98% of a clear fluid as the bottoms (< 2% unreacted residual monomer as distillation overhead) fraction which was hydrogenatedunder a set of standard hydrogenation conditions (at 170°C, 400 psi hydrogen, using Ni on Kieselguhr catalyst) to produce a synthetic base stock of the invention having the following properties shown in Table 5:TABLE 5: Properties - Example 4

[0044] The entire oligomer composition of Example 4 above (after removal of residual monomer followed by hydrogenation) has a 100°C viscosity of 1.50 cSt which is useful for the cited applications whereas a viscosity below DS- 162 is desired. It is also a very efficient production process as it is produced without any other co-products. Furthermore, and most significantly from prior arts, Gas Chromatographic (GC) analysis of this mixture shows a unique trimer peaking as opposed to the typical dimer peaking of 1-MOP promoter BF3 catalyst system reported in the literature prior to this invention from alpha olefins having greater C8 carbon units. The trimer / C18 is the dominant oligomer fraction with the following composition:Dimer / C12: 5%Trimer / C18: 71%Tertamer / C24: 19%Pentamer / C30: 4%Heavier >C30: 1%Invention Example 5:

[0045] To a 1 -gallon Parr reactor equipped with jacketed heating and internal cooling was charged with 1,200 g 1 -hexene and 2.0 g of l-methoxy-2 -propanol (1-MOP) and was heated to 40°C with stirring. Boron trifluoride (BF3) was introduced as a gas, and it was adjusted to a steady state pressure of 20 psig. The reaction was stirred for 120 minutes. The reaction mixture quenched with 400 ml of 8% NaOH and then washed with distilled water. Removal of the residual unreacted monomer as a volatile overhead fraction by distillation resulted in a yield of 98% of a clear fluid as the bottoms (< 2% unreacted residual monomer as distillation overhead) fraction which was hydrogenated under a set of standard hydrogenation conditions (at 170°C, 400 psi hydrogen, using Ni on Kieselguhr catalyst) to produce a synthetic base stock of the invention having the following properties shown in Table 6:TABLE 6: Properties - Example 5

[0046] The entire oligomer composition of Example 5 above (after removal of residual monomer followed by hydrogenation) has a 100°C viscosity of 1.35 cSt which is useful for the cited applications whereas a viscosity below DS- 162 is desired. It is also a very efficient production process as it is produced as the sole PAO product without any other co-products. Furthermore, and most significantly from prior arts, Gas Chromatographic (GC) analysis of this mixture shows a unique trimer peaking as opposed to the typical dimer peaking of 1-MOP promoter BF3 catalyst system reported in the literature prior to this invention alpha olefins having greater C8 carbon units. The trimer / C18 is the dominant oligomer fraction with the following composition:Dimer / C12: 12%Trimer / C18: 68%Tertamer / C24: 17%Pentamer / C30: 3%Heavier >C30: <1%

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A functional ultra-low viscosity fluid composition for gear box, clutch, electric vehicle transmission oil, battery pack coolant for electric vehicle, electric vehicle charging station coolant, aviation lubricant, space lubricant, data center immersion coolant, crypto mining, and electronic direct or indirect heat transfer fluid comprising a polyalphaolefin (PAO) having: a. kinematic 100°C viscosity in the range from 1.1 - 1.7 cSt (as determined by ASTM- D445 method). b. flash point of > 100°C (as detennined by ASTM D-92 method). c. pour point below -20°C (as determined by ASTM D-97); and d. the aforesaid composition is prepared from alpha olefin monomers containing from 4 to 8 carbon atoms or a mixture thereof.

2. Functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein the pour point is preferably blow -40 °C and most preferably below -60 °C.

3. Functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the PAO fluid is hydrogenated fluid having a 100°C viscosity in the range of 1.1 -1.7 cSt.

4. Functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein the alpha olefin is selected from 1 -hexene, 1-penten, 1 -butene or mixture thereof and the resultant PAO has a 100°C viscosity in the range of 1.1-1.7 cSt.

5. Functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein the alpha olefin is1 -hexene and the resultant PAO has a 100 °C viscosity in the range of 1.1-1.7 cSt.

6. Functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein the alpha olefin is 1 - hexene and the resultant PAO has a 100 °C viscosity in the range of 1.1-1.7 cSt.

7. A selective process to produce fluid composition of claim 6 wherein the PAO fluid is prepared by: a. reacting 1 -hexene (Ce) in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of BF3 combined with an alcohol alkoxylate promoter to produce a reacted bottom product and unreacted residual monomers in which the oligomer composition is peaked by having > 50% trimer / C18 content over the entire distribution. b. removing the unreacted residual monomers by distillation as an overhead fraction; andc. hydrogenating at least a portion of said bottom product to obtain a hydrogenated fluid having a 100°C viscosity in the range of 1.1 -1.7 cSt.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the alcohol alkoxylate promoter in step (a) is 2 -methoxy ethanol.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein the alcohol alkoxylate promoter in step (a) is l-methoxy-2-propanol.

10. A formulated lubricating oil comprising a mixture of: a. from about 1 to about 99 percent of said hydrogenated fluid of claim 1 having a 100° C viscosity in the range of 1. 1-1.7 cSt; and b. from 0 to 60 percent of a component selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic esters, natural or synthetic hydrocarbon fluids, or hydrocarbon oils derived from natural, and petroleum sourced raw materials and combinations thereof; and c. from 0.1 to 70 percent of additives selected from the group consisting of dispersants, antioxidants, anti-wear agents, antifoam agents, corrosion inhibitors, detergents, seal-swell agents, viscosity improvers and combinations thereof.

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