Reduced friction lubricating oils containing functionalized carbon nanomaterials

• US 8,435,931 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Habeeb, Jacob Joseph, Bogovic, Caliann N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goloboy, Jim
• Application Number:
  US12/835,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20110015106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 508/459, 508/128, 508/465, 508/165
• US Class Current: 508/128
• 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 145/22 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 149/12 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2209/10 Macromolecular compoundss obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2217/06 Macromolecular compounds obtained by functionalisation op polymers with a nitrogen containing compound
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/06 Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure

Abstract

Lubricating oil of reduced friction comprise lubricating oil base stock and dissolved therein carbon nanomaterials functionalized on their surface with ester or amide functionality and made using a technique involving multiple space apart in time or dropwise additions of reactants to the carbon nanomaterials.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the friction of a lubricating oil comprising a base stock or base oil by dissolving in the base stock or base oil from 10 ppm to 10 wt % of a functionalized carbon nanostructure material which functionalized carbon nanostructure material is made by a process comprising:

(1) suspending a carbon nanostructure material in a chlorinated benzene solvent; and

(2) adding to the suspension of (1), in at least 2 additions over a reaction time ranging from 2 days to 4 days between each addition, materials of the formula;

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the carbon nanostructure material is single-walled carbon nanotubes.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the single-walled carbon nanotubes are short single-walled nanotubes having a length between 1 to 10 microns and a diameter between 0.01 to 50 nanometers.

13. The method of claim 1, 5 or 6 wherein the carbon nanostructure material has had its surface decarboxylated.

17. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 wherein the temperature is held at from 40 to 70°

C. during the addition step and for one to four days following the final addition of the material to the suspended carbon nanostructure materials.

18. The method of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the lubricating oil further contains an additive amount of an organomolybdenum compound.

2. A method for reducing the friction of a lubricating oil comprising a base stock or base oil by dissolving in the base stock or base oil from 10 ppm to 10 wt % of a functionalized carbon nanostructure material which functionalized carbon nanostructure material is made by a process comprising:

(1) suspending a carbon nanostructure material in a chlorinated benzene solvent; and

(2) adding to the suspension of (1), dropwise over a reaction time ranging from 2 days to 4 days at a rate of one drop every thirty seconds to thirty minutes, material of the formula;

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the carbon nanostructure material is single-walled carbon nanotubes.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the single-walled carbon nanotubes are short single-walled carbon nanotubes having a length between 1 to 10 microns and a diameter between 0.01 to 50 nanometers.

14. The method of claim 2, 7 or 8 wherein the carbon nanostructure material has had its surface decarboxylated.

3. A method of reducing the friction of a lubricating oil comprising a base stock or base oil by dissolving in the base stock or base oil from 10 ppm to 10 wt % of a functionalized carbon nanostructure material which functionalized carbon nanostructure material is made by a process comprising:

(1) suspending a carbon nanostructure material in a chlorinated benzene solvent;

(2) adding of the suspension of (1), in at least 2 additions over a reaction time ranging from 2 days to 4 days between each addition, material of the formula;

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the carbon nanostructure material is single-walled carbon nanotubes.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the single-walled carbon nanotubes are short single-walled carbon nanotubes having a length between 1 to 10 microns and a diameter between 0.01 to 50 nanometers.

15. The method of claim 3, 9 or 10 wherein the carbon nanostructure material has had its surface decarboxylated.

4. A method for reducing the friction of a lubricating oil comprising a base stock or base oil by dissolving in the base stock or base oil from 10 ppm to 10 wt % of a functionalized carbon nanostructure material which functionalized carbon nanostructure material is made by a process comprising:

(1) suspending a carbon nanostructure material in a chlorinated benzene solvent;

(2) adding to the suspension of (1), dropwise over a reaction time ranging from 2 days to 4 days at a rate of one drop every thirty seconds to thirty minutes, material of the formula;

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the carbon nanostructure material is single-walled carbon nanotubes.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the single-walled carbon nanotubes are short single-walled carbon nanotubes having a length between 1 to 10 microns and a diameter between 0.01 to 50 nanometers.

16. The method of claim 4, 11 or 12 the carbon nanostructure material has had its surface decarboxylated.