Nano-tribology compositions and related methods including hard particles

• US 9,902,918 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P&S Global Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (University of Arkansas System)
• Inventors: Malshe, Ajay P.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINES, LATOSHA D
• Application Number:
  US14/302,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20140364348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 508117, 508155, 508168
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/007 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/61 inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 125/22 Compounds containing sulfur, selenium or tellurium
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 169/04 Mixtures of base-materials and additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 169/042 the additives being compounds of unknown or incompletely defined constitution only
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 171/06 Particles of special shape or size
• 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 2201/04 Elements
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/041 Carbon; Graphite; Carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/042 halogenated, i.e. graphite fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/06 Metal compounds
• 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 2201/0663 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/081 containing halogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/082 containing nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/084 containing sulfur, selenium or tellurium
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/087 Boron oxides, acids or salts
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/103 : Clays; Mica; Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/0206 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/1006 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/1025 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/163 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/0406 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/1285 : used as thickening agents
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/2815 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/2835 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/2895 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/401 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2213/046 : used as thickening agents
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2213/062 : Polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/0813 : used as thickening agents
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/10 : Phosphatides, e.g. lecithin, cephalin
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/103 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2229/025 : used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/04 : Groups 2 or 12
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/06 : Groups 3 or 13
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/08 : Groups 4 or 14
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/14 : Group 7
• 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 2030/56 : Boundary lubrication or thin film lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/023 : Multi-layer lubricant coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2050/10 : Semi-solids; greasy
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2070/00 : Specific manufacturing methods for lubricant compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 : Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

Compositions having a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of lubricant nanoparticles are disclosed. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A composition comprising:

a plurality of hard particles;

a plurality of lubricant nanoparticles having an average particle size of less than or equal to about 500 nm and an open architecture; and

an organic medium intercalated in the lubricant nanoparticles.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of a metal boride, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a metal oxide, a metal silicide, a solid state solution of any thereof, or a particulate mixture of any thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of a metal boride, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a metal oxide, a metal silicide, a solid state solution of any thereof, or a particulate mixture of any thereof, wherein the metal comprises at least one element selected from groups IIIA, IVB, VB, and VIB of the periodic table.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of a metal boride, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a metal oxide, a metal silicide, a solid state solution of any thereof, or a particulate mixture of any thereof, wherein the metal comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of synthetic diamond, natural diamond, amorphous carbon, or nanocrystalline carbon.

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the synthetic diamond particles or the natural diamond particles comprise polycrystalline diamond.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal carbide.

8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal carbide selected from the group consisting of tungsten carbides, molybdenum carbides, chromium carbides, tantalum carbides, niobium carbides, vanadium carbides, hafnium carbides, zirconium carbides, titanium carbides, boron carbides, silicon carbides, solid state solutions of any thereof, and particulate mixtures of any thereof.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal nitride.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal nitride selected from the group consisting of cubic boron nitrides, silicon nitrides, titanium nitrides, zirconium nitrides, hafnium nitrides, tungsten nitrides, solid state solutions of any thereof, and particulate mixtures of any thereof.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal oxide.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxides, cerium oxides, titanium oxides, zirconium oxides, solid state solutions of any thereof, and particulate mixtures of any thereof.

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal boride.

14. The composition of claim 13, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal boride selected from the group consisting of titanium diboride, zirconium diboride, hafnium diboride, tantalum borides, tungsten borides, silicon borides, solid state solutions of any thereof, and particulate mixtures of any thereof.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal carbonitride.

16. The composition of claim 15, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one metal carbonitride selected from the group consisting of boron carbonitrides, silicon carbonitrides, titanium carbonitrides, zirconium carbonitrides, hafnium carbonitrides, tungsten carbonitrides, solid state solutions of any thereof, and particulate mixtures of any thereof.

17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles have an average particle size of less than or equal to 500 nm.

18. The composition of claim 1, wherein the lubricant nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than or equal to 100 nm.

19. The composition of claim 1, wherein the lubricant nanoparticles are intercalated and encapsulated with the organic medium.

20. The composition of claim 1, wherein the lubricant nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles, tungsten disulfide nanoparticles, hexagonal boron nitride nanoparticles, graphite nanoparticles, and combinations of any thereof.

21. The composition of claim 1, wherein the lubricant nanoparticles comprise molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles.

22. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic medium comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of oil mediums, grease mediums, alcohol mediums, composite oils, canola oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, ethyl and methyl esters of rapeseed oil, monoglycerides, distilled monoglycerides, diglycerides, acetic acid esters of monoglycerides, organic acid esters of monoglycerides, sorbitan, sorbitan esters of fatty acids, propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, hydrocarbon oils, n-hexadecane, phospholipids, and combinations of any thereof.

23. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic medium comprises an oil medium selected from the group consisting of a composite oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, corn oil, a hydrocarbon oil, a mineral oil, and combinations of any thereof.

24. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic medium comprises a vegetable oil.

25. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a solid lubricant material in addition to the lubricant nanoparticles, wherein the solid lubricant material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, soft metals, silver, lead, nickel, copper, cerium fluoride, zinc oxide, silver sulfate, cadmium iodide, lead iodide, barium fluoride, tin sulfide, zinc phosphate, zinc sulfide, mica, boron nitrate, borax, fluorinated carbon, zinc phosphide, boron, and combinations of any thereof.

26. The composition of claim 25, wherein the additional solid lubricant material comprises nanoparticles having an average particle dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nm.

27. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a base lubricant material, wherein the hard particles and the lubricant nanoparticles are dispersed in the base lubricant material.

28. The composition of claim 27, wherein the base lubricant material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an oil, a grease, a plastic, a gel, a wax, a silicone, a hydrocarbon oil, a vegetable oil, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, a mineral oil, a paraffin oil, a synthetic oil, a petroleum gel, a petroleum grease, a hydrocarbon gel, a hydrocarbon grease, a lithium based grease, a fluoroether based grease, ethylenebistearamide, and combinations of any thereof.

29. The composition of claim 27, wherein the base lubricant material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an oil, a grease, a plastic, a gel, a paste, a wax, a silicone, and combinations of any thereof.

30. The composition of claim 27, wherein the base lubricant material comprises an oil or a grease.

31. The composition of claim 27, wherein the base lubricant material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a mineral oil, a paraffin oil, a synthetic oil, a petroleum grease, a hydrocarbon grease, a lithium based grease, and combinations of any thereof.

32. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an emulsifier.

33. The composition of claim 32, wherein the emulsifier comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of lecithins, phospholipids, soy lecithins, detergents, distilled monoglycerides, monoglycerides, diglycerides, acetic acid esters of monoglycerides, organic acid esters of monoglycerides, sorbitan esters of fatty acids, propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, compounds containing phosphorous, compounds containing sulfur, compounds containing nitrogen, and combinations of any thereof.

34. The composition of claim 32, wherein the emulsifier comprises a compound containing phosphorous.

35. The composition of claim 34, wherein the emulsifier comprises a phospholipid.

36. The composition of claim 34, wherein the emulsifier comprises a lecithin.

37. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an antioxidant.

38. The composition of claim 34, wherein the antioxidant comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols, alkylated phenols, alkyl amines, aryl amines, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, 4,4′

-di-tert-octyldiphenylamine, tert-butyl hydroquinone, tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphate, phosphites, thioesters, and combinations of any thereof.

39. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an anticorrosion agent.

40. The composition of claim 39, wherein the anticorrosion agent comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal bisalkylphenolsulphonates, dithiophosphates, alkenyl succinic acid half-amides, and combinations thereof.

41. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one biocidal.

42. The composition of claim 41, wherein the biocidal comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkyl benzothiazole, hydroxylamine benzothiazole, an amine salt of an alkyl succinic acid, an amine salt of an alkenyl succinic acid, a partial alkyl ester of an alkyl succinic acid, a partial alkyl ester of an alkenyl succinic acid, and combinations of any thereof.

43. The composition of claim 1, wherein the lubricant nanoparticles are functionalized with a catalyst.

44. The composition of claim 1, wherein the lubricant nanoparticles are functionalized with a dispersant agent.

45. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles are functionalized with a catalyst.

46. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hard particles are functionalized with a dispersant agent.

47. A lubricant comprising the composition of claim 1.

48. A composition comprising:

a plurality of hard particles;

a plurality of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles having an average particle size of less than or equal to about 100 nm and an open architecture; and

an oil medium intercalated in and encapsulating the molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles.

49. The composition of claim 48, wherein the oil medium is selected from the group consisting of a composite oil, canola oil, a vegetable oil, soybean oil, corn oil, a hydrocarbon oil, a mineral oil, and combinations of any thereof.

50. The composition of claim 48, wherein the organic medium comprises a vegetable oil.

51. The composition of claim 48, further comprising an emulsifier.

52. The composition of claim 51, wherein the emulsifier comprises a compound containing phosphorous.

53. The composition of claim 51, wherein the emulsifier comprises a phospholipid.

54. The composition of claim 51, wherein the emulsifier comprises a lecithin.

55. The composition of claim 48, further comprising a base lubricant material, wherein the hard particles and the molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles are dispersed in the base lubricant material.

56. The composition of claim 55, wherein the base lubricant material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an oil, a grease, a plastic, a gel, a wax, a silicone, and combinations of any thereof.

57. The composition of claim 55, wherein the base lubricant material comprises an oil or a grease.

58. The composition of claim 55, wherein the base lubricant material comprises at least one oil selected from the group consisting of a mineral oil, a paraffin oil, a synthetic oil, a petroleum grease, a hydrocarbon grease, a lithium based grease, and combinations of any thereof.

59. The composition of claim 48, further comprising one or more of an antioxidant, an anticorrosion agent, a biocidal, and a solid lubricant material in addition to the molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles.

60. The composition of claim 48, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of a metal boride, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a metal oxide, a metal silicide, a solid state solution of any thereof, or a particulate mixture of any thereof, wherein the metal comprises at least one element selected from groups IIIA, IVB, VB, and VIB of the periodic table.

61. The composition of claim 48, wherein the hard particles have an average particle size of less than or equal to 500 nm.