Performance improvement of the benzyl methacrylate-methacrylate copolymers pour point depressant by hybrid with nano-silica for diesel fuels

In our previous work, the addition of benzyl methacrylate-methacrylate copolymers (MB-R1MC, R1 = C12, C14, C16, C18) could effectively improve the cold flow property of diesel fuel. To further improve the performance, nano-SiO2 was used to hybrid with the MB-R1MC to study, and the effect of nano-SiO2/MB-R1MC on the cold flow properties of diesel fuel were studied. Results show that nano-SiO2/MB-C14MC exhibited better depressive effects in diesel than that of MB-C14MC at the same dosages. The nano-SiO2/MB-C14MC in 1: 6 mass ratios reduced the cold filter plugging point and solid point by 16°C and 32°C at 0.3 wt.%, respectively. Additionally, the action mechanism was explored by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, and rheological analysis.