Synthesis and Evaluation of Copolymers as Pour-point Depressants

α-Olefin maleic anhydride copolymers were prepared by reacting C8 or C14 olefin with maleic anhydride, then esterified with dodecyl or NAFOL 1822B alcohol, purified and characterized through average molecular weight, polydispersity index, and infrared spectroscopy. A waxy crude oil (pour point = 21°C and wax content = 18.9 wt%) was treated with the four synthesized additives as pour-point depressants and determined using x-ray diffractometer. It is found that the x-ray diffraction patterns of waxes with additives are remarkably different from those without additives. The NAFOL 1822B ester of 1-tetradecene maleic anhydride copolymer also show stronger interaction with the wax than NAFOL 1822B ester of 1-octene copolymer, dodecyl ester of 1-tetradecene maleic anhydride copolymer, and dodecy ester of 1-octene maleic anhydride copolymer. These effects can be attributed to the chain length of side hydrocarbon. The wax solubilization is a function of copolymer.