Carbon nanotubes in fuels and lubricants

• US 20010041663A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International Incorporated
• Inventors: Niu, Chunming, Hoch, Robert, Tennent, Howard, Moy, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,419,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 508/413
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/00 Liquid carbonaceous fuels
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/04 essentially based on blends of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1208 elements
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/02 for reducing smoke development
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/08 for improving lubricity; for reducing wear
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 113/02 Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 125/02 Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/041 Carbon; Graphite; Carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/06 Particles of special shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/063 Fibrous forms
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/02 Pour-point; Viscosity index
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/28 Anti-static
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/30 Anti-misting
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/54 Fuel economy
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/20 Metal working
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/782 Possessing nanosized physical convexity, ridge, or protrusion extending upward from the host's surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/787 Viscous fluid host/matrix containing nanomaterials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes

Abstract

Improved fuel compositions containing carbon nanotubes in from 0.01% to 30.0% by weight of fuel have improved burn rate and other valuable properties. Improved lubricant compositions containing carbon nanotubes in from 0.01 to 20.0% by weight of lubricant have improved viscosity and other valuable properties.

Claims

1. A fuel composition containing:

(a) a fuel; and

(b) from 0.01% to 30% by weight of fuel of carbon nanotubes.

2. A liquid hydrocarbon fuel composition having improved fuel properties containing:

(a) a petroleum derivative comprising gasoline, gas oil, kerosene, diesel fuel or heavy oil; and

(b) carbon nanotubes in from 0.1% to 10.0% by weight of said fuel, said nanotubes having a diameter less than 0.5μ and

a length to diameter ratio greater than 5.

3. A composition as recited in

claim 2

wherein said nanotubes are substantially cylindrical, graphitic carbon nanotubes of substantially constant diameter less than 0.1μ

, comprise cylindrical graphitic sheets whose c-axes are substantially perpendicular to their cylindrical axis, are substantially free of pyrolytically deposited carbon and have a length to diameter ratio from 5;

1 to 500;

1, said nanotubes being dispersed in said fuel.

6. A composition as recited in

claim 2

wherein said nanotubes are substantially cylindrical, graphitic carbon nanotubes of substantially constant diameter less than 0.1μ

, comprise cylindrical graphitic sheets whose c-axes are substantially perpendicular to their cylindrical axis, are substantially free of pyrolytically deposited carbon and have a length to diameter ratio from 5;

1 to 500;

1.

4. A lubricant composition containing:

(a) a lubricant; and

(b) from 0.01% to 20% by weight of lubricant of carbon nanotubes.

5. A lubricant composition having improved lubricant properties, containing:

(a) a lubricant having a molecular weight of from 250 to 1,000; and

(b) from 0.1% to 10.0% by weight of said lubricant of carbon nanotubes dispersed therein, said nanotubes having a diameter less than 0.5μ and

a length to diameter ratio greater than 5.

7. A metal working fluid having improved anti-misting properties comprising:

(a) a metal working fluid; and

(b) from 0.01% to 20% by weight of fuel of carbon nanotubes.

8. A method of producing an improved fuel or lubricant containing carbon nanotubes comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a mixture of a polymeric matrix and carbon nanotubes, said mixture containing from 1 to 30% by weight of carbon nanotubes; and

(b) combining the mixture formed in step (a) with a fuel or lubricant in such amount as to form a fuel having from 0.1% to 10.0% by weight of carbon nanotubes in said fuel, or, a lubricant containing from 0.01% to 20% by weight of carbon nanotubes in said lubricant.