Metal-free lubricant composition containing graphite for use in threaded connections

• US 5,180,509 A
• Filed: 04/09/1991
• Issued: 01/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norman L. Jacobs
• Original Assignee: Norman L. Jacobs
• Inventors: Jacobs, Norman L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOWARD, JACQUELINE V
• Application Number:
  US07/682,276
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 252/22, 252/29, 252/30
• US Class Current: 508/126
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 169/04 Mixtures of base-materials and additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/041 Carbon; Graphite; Carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/0413 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/042 halogenated, i.e. graphite fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/0423 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/05 Metals; Alloys
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/062 Oxides; Hydroxides; Carbonates or bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/063 Peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/003 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/022 Ethene
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/024 Propene
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/026 Butene
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/14 Synthetic waxes, e.g. polythene waxes
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/125 having hydrocarbon chains of eight up to twenty-nine carbon atoms, i.e. fatty acids
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/40 Fatty vegetable or animal oils
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/404 obtained from genetically modified species
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/04 having amino groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/042 containing hydroxy groups; Alkoxylated derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/26 Amines
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2217/046 Polyamines, i.e. macromoleculars obtained by condensation of more than eleven amine monomers
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2217/06 : Macromolecular compounds obtained by functionalisation op polymers with a nitrogen containing compound
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2219/042 : Sulfate esters
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2219/044 : Sulfonic acids, Derivatives thereof, e.g. neutral salts
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/04 : Phosphate esters
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/042 : Metal salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/065 : containing sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/02 : Groups 1 or 11
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/04 : Groups 2 or 12

Abstract

A metal-free lubricant composition for use in threaded tube and pipe connections includes graphite and a substantially nonabrasive, friction increasing adjusting component, both dispersed in a lubricant base material in which a polyalkylene is dissolved, with the graphite being present in an amount effect to decrease a coefficient of friction of said composition, the friction increasing adjusting component being present in an amount effective to increase the coefficient of friction of the composition, and the polyalkylene being present in an amount effective to enhance formation of graphite flakes from graphite particles upon application of pressure. The lubricant composition can provide corrosion resistance as well as similar or superior lubricating properties in comparison to conventional metal-containing grease compositions.

Claims

1. A metal free lubricant composition for threaded connections which consists essentially of graphite dispersed in a lubricant base material in which a polyalkylene is dissolved, said graphite being present in an amount which is effective to decrease a coefficient of friction of said composition, and said polyalkylene being present in an amount effective to enhance formation of graphite flakes from graphite particles upon application of pressure, said composition also including a substantially non-abrasive, friction increasing adjusting component dispersed in the base material in an amount effective to increase a coefficient of friction of said composition.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the adjusting component is selected from mica, vermiculite, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, zinc phosphate, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and zinc carbonate.

3. A composition according to claim 1 in which the adjusting component is mica.

4. A composition according to claim 1 which further comprises an additive chosen from amines and amine salts, and metal-amine complexes.

5. A composition according to claim 4 in which the additive is a fatty amine.

6. A composition according to claim 1 in which the amount of graphite is from 10 to 70% by weight.

7. A composition according to claim 6 in which the amount of graphite is from 20 to 40% by weight.

8. A composition according to claim 1 in which the amount of the polyalkylene is from 5 to 40% by volume based on graphite.

9. A composition according to claim 8 in which the amount of the polyalkylene is from 10 to 20% by volume based on graphite.

10. A composition according to claim 1 in which the polyalkylene is atactic polypropylene.

11. A composition according to claim 1 in which the amount of the said adjusting component is from 5 to 50% by weight based on graphite.

12. A composition according to claims 4 or 5 in which the amount of the additive is from 0.1 to 10% by weight based on graphite.

13. A composition according to claim 1 in which the lubricant base material is selected from oils and greases comprising an oil containing a soap, wherein the oils are selected from hydrocarbon oil, animal oil and vegetable oil.

14. A method of forming a threaded connection between a male part and a female part which comprises applying a lubricant composition according to claim 1 to at least one of the said male and female parts and screwing together the said male and female parts.