Crystal structure of mixed paraffins and rheological behavior of model waxy oils

The rheological behavior of model waxy oils prepared by dissolving long chain n-paraffin binary mixtures in decane depends on crystal structure of the mixed paraffins. Paraffin mixtures with high solubility, which can form solid solutions, show higher yield stresses in model waxy oils than those with poor solubility. The larger the difference of carbon atoms between two components δC, the smaller the yield stress of model waxy oil. Eutectic structure always appears in the solid paraffin mixtures with δC ≤ 8. Poly(ethylene butane)s can reduce the yield stress and thus improve the cold-flow properties of model waxy oils significantly. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 229th ACS National Meeting (San Diego, CA 3/13-17/2005).