Viscosity Index Improvers Additives

Thickeners & Viscosity Index Improvers additive in the UAE

A Viscosity Index Improver is essentially an oil thickener and its primary function in an engine oil formulation is to form a thin film around the internal parts of the engine. Although they make up only 1% of the total engine oil formulation, a good quality viscosity modifier effectively plays its part by maintaining its viscosity at high temperatures, thereby reducing the friction between metal parts of the engines.

Top Polymers is a renowned viscosity index improver supplier in the UAE, adding value to Engine Oils, Hydraulic Oils, Gear Oils and Automatic Transmission Fluids. Our Viscosity Improvers are delivered in the form of pellets, bales and liquid forms that are thoroughly tested by our team of tribologists, before they are dispatched to the customer. Below you can find our line of products or you can inquire with us for new offers.

PETROLENE® OCP Viscosity Index Improvers for Multi-Grade Lubricants

Base oil thins as it heats and thickens as it cools, which on its own makes a lubricant either too heavy to pump at start-up or too light to protect a bearing at operating temperature.

A viscosity index improver resolves that conflict: a polymer additive that reduces how sharply viscosity falls as temperature rises, making a multi-grade oil such as SAE 10W-40 or SAE 80W-90 possible from a single base stock.

Top Polymers FZC supplies PETROLENE® viscosity index improvers, a range of olefin copolymer (OCP) additives available in granule, bale and liquid form, spanning 18 to 45 SSI, used by lubricant blenders, refiners and additive formulators in engine oils, hydraulic oils, gear oils and automatic transmission fluids.

What is a viscosity index improver?

A viscosity index improver, also called a viscosity modifier, viscosity index modifier or oil thickener, is a polymer dissolved into base oil to control how fast the oil’s viscosity changes with temperature.

Viscosity Index (VI) is the scale used to measure that rate, calculated from kinematic viscosity at 40 °C and 100 °C (ASTM D2270); a higher VI means viscosity changes less across the temperature range, which is how formulators meet SAE J300 and ISO multi-grade requirements.

The terms get used interchangeably: a supplier’s “viscosity modifier,” a formulator’s “VI improver,” a buyer’s “oil thickener,” or, depending on where you’re buying from, an oil viscosity improver, viscosity index modifiers, or viscosity improver oil additives all describe the same chemistry.

How viscosity index improvers work

The accepted explanation is the coil expansion model, first described by Selby in 1958. It remains the working model used across the lubricant industry today.

At low temperatures, the base oil is a poor solvent for the polymer, so the chains in these viscosity improver polymers remain tightly coiled and contribute only a small amount to thickening the oil.

At higher temperatures, the base oil becomes a better solvent. The polymer chains then uncoil and expand, increasing their thickening effect and helping offset the base oil’s natural tendency to thin as temperature rises. This temperature-responsive behavior is what a higher viscosity index describes

The effect is reversible as temperature cycles, provided the chains haven’t been permanently broken by mechanical shear, which brings us to the number every formulator asks for first.

How viscosity index improvers work

SSI (Shear Stability Index) measures the percentage of a viscosity index improver’s viscosity contribution that is permanently lost when the polymer is mechanically sheared, irreversibly; a lower SSI means better shear resistance and more viscosity retained over the oil’s service life.

The trade-off is direct: higher-molecular-weight polymers thicken more efficiently, so a formulator needs less of them, but they shear more readily, while lower SSI grades resist shear better but need a higher treat rate to reach the same target viscosity.The grade you need depends on what the oil actually has to survive:

Application	Typical SSI Range	Why
Gear oils, hydraulic fluids	18–24	High, sustained mechanical shear; viscosity must hold
Passenger car engine oils	24–36	Balance of thickening efficiency and drain interval
Heavy-duty diesel, extended drain	18–33	Long service life demands shear retention
Monograde / short drain	36–45	Thickening efficiency matters more than retention

SSI is also method-dependent: ASTM D6278, D7109 and D2603 return different numbers for the same polymer, so values are only comparable when the test method matches. PETROLENE® SSI values are stated with their test method on each datasheet.

Choose the Right SSI Grade for Your Application

Not sure which SSI level fits your engine oil, hydraulic fluid or gear oil? Share your target viscosity, operating conditions and drain interval, and our technical team can recommend a suitable PETROLENE® grade.

PETROLENE® viscosity index improver range

All PETROLENE® VII grades (also sold as viscosity index improver additives) are olefin copolymer (OCP) based.

Granules – pre-formed pellets for batch blending

Grade	SSI
PETROLENE® 1800-P	18
PETROLENE® 8592-P	24
PETROLENE® 6104-P	36
PETROLENE® 1410-P	45

Free-flowing, easy to weigh and meter, and well suited to blenders running multiple viscosity grades from one plant.

Bales – solid blocks for high-volume production

Grade	SSI
PETROLENE® 5870	24
PETROLENE® 1110	35

Lowest handling cost per tonne for continuous, high-throughput operations.

Liquid concentrates – the VX series, pre-dissolved

Grade	Form
PETROLENE® VX-3	Liquid concentrate
PETROLENE® VX-9	Liquid concentrate
PETROLENE® VX-12	Liquid concentrate
PETROLENE® VX-15	Liquid concentrate

Supplied ready-dissolved, with no dissolution step or heated mixing vessel, suited to in-line and continuous blending.

HLP-grade formulations cover most fixed industrial systems, while HVLP (high-viscosity-index) formulations suit mobile and outdoor equipment exposed to wide temperature swings and rely on a viscosity index improver to hold viscosity across that range.

Find the Right Form for Your Blending Process

Choosing between granules, bales and liquid concentrates? Tell us about your blending process and production volume, and we can help you select the most practical PETROLENE® form and grade.

Applications of Viscosity Index Improvers (VIIs)

Engine oils

Multi-grade passenger car and heavy-duty diesel formulations, where the oil must pump at cold start and hold viscosity at sump temperature. Viscosity modifiers in engine oil formulations work alongside our engine oil additive packages; grade selection is driven by drain interval and viscosity grade.

Hydraulic oils

HLP and HVLP fluids. HVLP formulations depend on a viscosity index improver to hold viscosity across the operating range, alongside our hydraulic oil additive packages; both face sustained shear at the pump, which is why low SSI grades dominate here.

Gear oils

SAE multi-grade gear oils, where load-bearing performance depends on retained viscosity, alongside the EP chemistry in our gear oil additive packages. Gear tooth contact is among the most severe shear environments in any lubricated system.

Automatic transmission fluids

ATF and industrial applications requiring stable viscosity behaviour across a wide temperature range and long service life.

Benefits of PETROLENE® Viscosity Index Improvers

A grade for the requirement, not a compromise

18 to 45 SSI across the range means you can match the polymer to the drain interval instead of over-treating.

Three forms, one chemistry

Granule, bale and liquid, so the form fits your blending process.

Base oil compatibility

PETROLENE® OCP grades are formulated for use with Group I, II and III base oils, allowing the same additive across multiple formulations.

Batch-to-batch consistency

Sourced under API Spec Q1 quality management and tested batch by batch.

technical support that knows the question behind the question

Our team works with blenders on grade selection, treat rate and troubleshooting.

Supplied from Ajman Free Zone, UAE

with an established customer base across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Why Customers Trust Top Polymers for PETROLENE® Viscosity Index Improvers

API Spec Q1 certified quality management, backed by ISO 9001:2015

In-house R&D and testing, so formulation and SSI testing happen under one roof

Over five decades in the petrochemicals trade

Three supply forms from one manufacturer: granule, bale and liquid

Export reach across roughly 21 markets, spanning the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Frequently asked questions

What is a viscosity index improver?

A polymer additive blended into base oil to reduce how much viscosity changes with temperature, so the oil flows at cold start while keeping adequate viscosity at operating temperature. It’s what makes multi-grade oils like SAE 10W-40 possible from a single base stock.

What is the difference between a viscosity modifier and a viscosity index improver?

There isn’t one; viscosity modifier, viscosity index modifier, viscosity index improver, VII, VM and oil thickener all refer to the same class of polymer additive, with usage varying by region and company.

What does SSI mean for a viscosity index improver?

Shear Stability Index measures the share of the polymer’s viscosity contribution permanently lost under mechanical shear; the lower the number, the better it holds up. Gear oils and hydraulic fluids typically use low SSI grades (18–24); engine oils fall between 24 and 45. Values are only comparable when the test method (ASTM D6278, D7109 or D2603) matches.

What forms are PETROLENE® viscosity index improvers available in?

Granules, bales, and liquid concentrates, all supplied from Ajman Free Zone, UAE.

What is a polymethacrylate (PMA) viscosity index improver?

A PMA VII uses polymethacrylate ester chemistry rather than olefin copolymer, offering strong low-temperature performance at a higher cost per unit of thickening. PETROLENE® viscosity index improvers are OCP-based.

Which base oils are PETROLENE® VII grades compatible with?

API Group I, II and III. For Group IV (PAO) and Group V, contact our technical team.

What applications are viscosity index improvers used in?

Multi-grade engine, gear and hydraulic oils, and automatic transmission fluids; any lubricant needing both a low- and high-temperature viscosity specification.

What is a viscosity enhancer?

Another term for a viscosity index improver or viscosity modifier, not a distinct product type.

How do I choose the right VII grade for my formulation?

Start with your drain interval and shear environment to set the SSI requirement, then work back to treat rate against your base oil and target viscosity grade. Send us your specification and we’ll recommend a grade.

Ready to Select Your PETROLENE® VII Grade?

Tell us the viscosity grade you are targeting, the base oil you are using and the drain interval you need to hit. We will recommend a PETROLENE® grade and a starting treat rate, and send you the datasheet to check it against.

Areas We Serve & Products Directory

Explore our global presence across 20 countries and regions, or browse our related product pages.

United Arab Emirates

and across UAE

Argentina

and across Argentina

Germany

and across Germany

Nigeria

and across Nigeria

Pakistan

and across Pakistan

United States

and across USA

Turkey

and across Turkey

Belgium

and across Belgium

Kenya

and across Kenya

Bangladesh

and across Bangladesh

Columbia

and across Columbia

Italy

and across Italy

Middle East

and across region

South Africa

and across South Africa

South East Asia

and across region

Brazil

and across Brazil

Spain

and across Spain

Maghreb

and across region

India

and across India

South Korea

and across South Korea

Viscosity Index Improvers Additives

Viscosity Index Improvers Additives

Thickeners & Viscosity Index Improvers additive in the UAE

Granules

Bale

Liquid

PETROLENE® OCP Viscosity Index Improvers for Multi-Grade Lubricants

What is a viscosity index improver?

How viscosity index improvers work

How viscosity index improvers work

Choose the Right SSI Grade for Your Application

PETROLENE® viscosity index improver range

Granules – pre-formed pellets for batch blending

Bales – solid blocks for high-volume production

Liquid concentrates – the VX series, pre-dissolved

Find the Right Form for Your Blending Process

Applications of Viscosity Index Improvers (VIIs)

Benefits of PETROLENE® Viscosity Index Improvers

A grade for the requirement, not a compromise

Three forms, one chemistry

Base oil compatibility

Batch-to-batch consistency

technical support that knows the question behind the question

Supplied from Ajman Free Zone, UAE

Why Customers Trust Top Polymers for PETROLENE® Viscosity Index Improvers

Frequently asked questions

Ready to Select Your PETROLENE® VII Grade?

Areas We Serve & Products Directory

Connect With Us

Let’s Discuss Your Requirements