Poly(3-pentadecylphenyl acrylate) having a bottlebrush-like structure for high-performance middle distillate flow improver

Bottlebrush-like structured poly(3-pentadecylphenyl acrylate) (PPDPA) was prepared and found to be an effective middle distillate flow improver (MDFI) for enhancing the cold properties of diesel, such as the cloud point (CP), cold filter plugging point (CFPP), and pour point (PP). For example, when 250 ppm of PPDPA was added to base diesel, the CP, CFPP, and PP values of the diesel decreased from -3, -9, and 15 degrees C to -6, -13, and -24 degrees C, respectively. Interestingly, when another bottlebrush polymer, poly(n-pentadecyl acrylate) (PPDA), with a very similar chemical structure was prepared and added to the diesel in a concentration of 250 ppm, the CFPP increased to -8 degrees C. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy results indicated that the additional phenyl group on the side chain restricted the crystallization of the pentadecyl side group. PPDPA, with the 3-pentadecylphenyl side group, hindered the wax crystallization in the diesel, while PPDA, with the 3-pentadecyl side group without the phenyl structure, facilitated the wax crystallization.