Imide Quaternary Ammonium Salts for Low-Temperature Additive Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing additive packages for fuels suffer from stability issues, particularly at low temperatures, leading to separation of components and increased solvent requirements, which affects their performance and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The use of ultra-low molecular weight imide containing quaternary ammonium salts with hydrocarbyl substituents less than 300, which enhance the stability of additive packages, reducing the need for stabilizing solvents and improving compatibility with other additives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional quaternary ammonium salts with longer hydrocarbon tails are used, then detergency performance is achieved, but additive package stability deteriorates at low temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive package stabilityVSAvoidadditive package stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the hydrocarbyl substituent from conventional ranges (100-500 or greater) to an ultra-low range (less than 300, preferably less than 200, more preferably less than 100). This parameter change fundamentally alters the balance between detergency performance and additive package stability, enabling stable formulations at low temperatures while maintaining effective detergency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If stabilizing solvents are added to improve additive package stability, then stability improves, but the concentration of effective additives decreases and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive package stabilityVSAvoidconcentration of effective additives

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for stabilizing solvents by incorporating stability directly into the quaternary ammonium salt structure itself. The ultra-low molecular weight hydrocarbyl substituent provides inherent stability, allowing the formulation to maintain stability without adding separate solvent components, thereby preserving high concentrations of effective additives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The quaternary ammonium salt with ultra-low molecular weight hydrocarbyl substituent performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides detergency performance, ensures additive package stability at low temperatures, and eliminates the need for separate stabilizing solvents. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between stability and concentration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If higher molecular weight hydrocarbyl substituents are used, then detergency performance is maintained, but additive package stability and compatibility worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetergency performanceVSAvoidcompatibility with other additives

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter change by reducing the molecular weight of the hydrocarbyl substituent to ultra-low levels (less than 300). This dramatic reduction in molecular size improves compatibility with other additives in the package while maintaining effective detergency performance, resolving the contradiction between performance and compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3383979B1Use of ultra-low molecular weight imide containing quaternary ammonium salts to improve the stability of an additive package

Publication Date: 2026.02.04 THE LUBRIZOL CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

The present technology is related to imide containing quaternary ammonium salts having a hydrocarbyl substituent of number average molecular weight less 300, and additive packages having such quaternary ammonium salts and improved stability.