Surface conditioning nanolubricant

• US 9,644,166 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howard University
• Original Assignee: Howard University
• Inventors: Mosleh, Mohsen
• Primary Examiner(s): GOLOBOY, JAMES C
• Application Number:
  US14/356,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20140371118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 508129, 508165, 508167
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 125/22 Compounds containing sulfur, selenium or tellurium
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 171/06 Particles of special shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/041 Carbon; Graphite; Carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/061 Carbides; Hydrides; Nitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/062 Oxides; Hydroxides; Carbonates or bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/065 Sulfides; Selenides; Tellurides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/066 Molybdenum sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/105 Silica
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/06 Groups 3 or 13
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/08 Groups 4 or 14
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/12 Groups 6 or 16
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/02 Viscosity; Viscosity index
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/06 Particles of special shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/061 Coated particles
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/02 Pour-point; Viscosity index
• 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 2050/015 Dispersions of solid lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/02 dissolved or suspended in a carrier which subsequently evaporates to leave a lubricant coating
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/04 Aerosols
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/10 : Semi-solids; greasy

Abstract

A nanolubricant composition is described where the lubricant composition includes a flowable oil or grease with nanoparticles dispersed in the flowable oil or grease. The nanoparticles are configured to polish a surface of a structure slowly over a period of time. The nanoparticles a hardness of at least about 7 Mohs and a diameter that is less than one half the arithmetic average roughness of the surface or a length that is less than one half of the arithmetic average roughness of the surface.

Claims

1. A nanolubricant composition for polishing a surface, the composition comprising:

a flowable lubricant; and

a multi-component nanoparticle dispersed in the lubricant and configured to polish the surface, the multi-component nanoparticle including a first nanoparticle component which effects shearing at the surface and a second nanoparticle which effects polishing of the surface, the second nanoparticle component at least partially integrated with the first nanoparticle component, the first nanoparticle component having a lamellar structure and the second nanoparticle component selected from the group consisting of diamond, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, boron carbide, silicon carbide and zirconium oxide.

2. The nanolubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the second nanoparticle component has a diameter that is less than one half the arithmetic average roughness or a length that is less than one half of the arithmetic average roughness.

3. The nanolubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the second nanoparticle component at least partially coats the first nanoparticle component.

4. The nanolubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the second nanoparticle component completely coats the first nanoparticle component.

5. The nanolubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the second nanoparticle component is at least partially embedded into the first nanoparticle component.

6. The nanolubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the first nanoparticle component is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, boron nitride and graphite.

7. The nanolubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the second nanoparticle component has a diameter of less than about 35 nm.

8. The nanolubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the second nanoparticle component has a length of less than about 35 nm.

9. A method of in-situ nanopolishing a contact surface having an arithmetic average roughness, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a nanolubricant including a flowable lubricant and multi-component nanoparticles, the multi-component nanoparticles dispersed in the lubricant and include a first nanoparticle component which effects shearing and a second nanoparticle component configured to polish the surface, the first nanoparticle component having a lamella structure and the second nanoparticle component having a hardness of at least about 7 Mohs (equivalent to 820 kg/mm² in Knoop scale) and a diameter that is less than one half the arithmetic average roughness or a length that is less than one half of the arithmetic average roughness; and

polishing the contact surface using the nanolubricant to increase the ratio of a film thickness of the nanolubricant at the surface to the composite roughness.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second nanoparticle component at least partially coats the first nanoparticle component.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the second nanoparticle component completely coats the first nanoparticle component.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the second nanoparticle component is at least partially embedded into the first nanoparticle component.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the second nanoparticle component is selected from the group consisting of diamond, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, boron carbide, silicon carbide and zirconium oxide.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first nanoparticle component is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, boron nitride and graphite.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the second nanoparticle component has a diameter of less than about 35 nm.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the second nanoparticle component has a length of less than about 35 nm.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the second nanoparticle component has a diameter that is less than one half the arithmetic average roughness or a length that is less than one half of the arithmetic average roughness.