NOVEL MATERIALS AS ADDITIVES FOR ADVANCED LUBRICATION

• US 20140274830A1
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC
• Original Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC
• Inventors: POL, Vilas G., THACKERAY, Michael M., MISTRY, Kuldeep, ERDEMIR, Ali
• Granted Patent: US 9,441,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 508/122
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/845 Cobalt
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/2239 Bridging ligands, e.g. OAc in Cr2(OAc)4, Pt4(OAc)8 or dicarboxylate ligands
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 125/02 Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 129/72 of polycarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 169/04 Mixtures of base-materials and additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 177/00 Special methods of preparation of lubricating compositions; Chemical modification by after-treatment of components or of the whole of a lubricating composition, not covered by other classes
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/041 Carbon; Graphite; Carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/0413 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/061 Carbides; Hydrides; Nitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/065 Sulfides; Selenides; Tellurides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/085 Phosphorus oxides, acids or salts
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/0285 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/12 having carboxyl groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/28 Esters epoxidised esters C10M2207/24
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/283 of polyhydroxy compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/289 containing free hydroxy groups
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/02 Groups 1 or 11
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/08 Groups 4 or 14
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/10 : Groups 5 or 15
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/12 : Groups 6 or 16
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/14 : Group 7
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/16 : Groups 8, 9, or 10
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/055 : Particles related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/06 : Particles of special shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/06 : Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/25 : Internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/10 : Semi-solids; greasy
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/12 : Micro capsules
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2070/00 : Specific manufacturing methods for lubricant compositions

Abstract

This invention relates to carbon-based materials as anti-friction and anti-wear additives for advanced lubrication purposes. The materials comprise carbon nanotubes suspended in a liquid hydrocarbon carrier. Optionally, the compositions further comprise a surfactant (e.g., to aid in dispersion of the carbon particles). Specifically, the novel lubricants have the ability to significantly lower friction and wear, which translates into improved fuel economies and longer durability of mechanical devices and engines.

Claims

1. A lubricant composition comprising a particulate carbon nanotube material suspended in a liquid hydrocarbon carrier;

wherein individual carbon nanotubes comprise a nanotubular carbon particle encapsulating a metal nanoparticle at an end thereof

2. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein metal nanoparticle comprises cobalt.

3. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the metal nanoparticle comprises a metallic cobalt nanoparticle with face-centered cubic crystal symmetry, and the nanotubular carbon particle has an average tubular diameter of less than about 100 nm.

4. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein metal nanoparticle comprises iron.

5. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the metal nanoparticle comprises a metallic iron nanoparticle with face-centered cubic crystal symmetry, and the nanotubular carbon particle has an average tubular diameter of less than about 100 nm.

6. The lubricant composition of claim 1 further comprising a surfactant.

7. The lubricant composition of claim 6 wherein the surfactant comprises a non-ionic surfactant.

8. The lubricant composition of claim 6 wherein the surfactant comprises sorbitan trioleate.

9. The lubricant composition of claim 6 wherein the surfactant is present in the composition at a concentration in the range of about 1000 to about 20000 parts-per-million (ppm).

10. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon carrier comprises a poly(alpha olefin).

11. The lubricant composition of claim 10 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon carrier comprises a poly(alpha olefin) and the particulate carbon nanotube material is present in the composition at a concentration in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 wt %.

12. The lubricant composition of claim 11 further comprising a non-ionic surfactant.

13. The lubricant composition of claim 12 wherein the surfactant comprises sorbitan trioleate.

14. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the particulate carbon nanotube material is prepared by heating a precursor composition under autogenic pressure in a sealed vessel and the precursor composition comprises a combination of low or high density polyethylene and about 5 to about 20 wt % of a metal-containing compound.

15. The lubricant composition of claim 14 wherein the metal-containing compound comprises at least one material selected from the groups consisting of a metal carboxylate salt, metal phosphate salt, a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal carbine, a metal boride, a metal nitride, and an organometallic compound.

16. The lubricant composition of claim 15 wherein the metal of the metal-containing compound comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of B, Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, W, Ag, Au, Sn, and Bi.

17. The lubricant composition of claim 14 wherein the metal-containing compound comprises cobalt acetate, and the carbon particles comprise metallic cobalt nanoparticles with face-centered cubic crystal symmetry encapsulated within carbon nanotubes having an average tubular diameter of less than about 100 nm.

18. The lubricant composition of claim 17 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon carrier comprises a poly(alpha olefin), the carbon particles are present in the composition at a concentration in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 wt %, and the composition further comprises a non-ionic surfactant.

19. The lubricant composition of claim 14 wherein the metal-containing compound comprises ferrocene, and the carbon particles comprise metallic iron nanoparticles with face-centered cubic crystal symmetry encapsulated at the tip of carbon nanotubes having an average tubular diameter of less than about 100 nm.

20. The lubricant composition of claim 19 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon carrier comprises a poly(alpha olefin), the carbon particles are present in the composition at a concentration in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 wt %, and the composition further comprises a non-ionic surfactant.