Nanoparticle compositions and methods for making and using the same

• US 8,492,319 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• 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., Verma, Arpana
• Primary Examiner(s): McAvoy, Ellen
• Assistant Examiner(s): HINES, LATOSHA D
• Application Number:
  US12/160,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,384 Days
• Field of Search: 508/154, 508/155, 508/161, 508/162, 508/165, 508/166, 508/167, 508/171, 508/172
• US Class Current: 508/154
• 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 of chromium C10M2201/086
• 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 nitrides C10M2201/061
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/084 containing sulfur, selenium or tellurium sulfides, tellurides, selenides C10M2201/065
• 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

A composition that includes solid lubricant nanoparticles and an organic medium is disclosed. Also disclosed are nanoparticles that include layered materials. A method of producing a nanoparticle by milling layered materials is provided. Also disclosed is a method of making a lubricant, the method including milling layered materials to form nanoparticles and incorporating the nanoparticles into a base to form a lubricant.

Claims

1. A method of making a solid lubricant nanoparticle composition comprising:

(a) dry milling a solid lubricant until the dry milled solid lubricant comprises nanoparticles having an average particle dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nm;

(b) then wet milling the nanoparticles in an organic medium until at least a portion of the nanoparticles have an open-ended architecture and the organic medium is intercalated in the nanoparticles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid lubricant comprises at least one layered material selected from the group consisting of chalcogenides, molybdenum disulphide, tungsten disulphide, graphite, boron nitride, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein organic medium comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of oil mediums, grease mediums, alcohol mediums, composite oil, canola oil, vegetable oils, soybean oil, corn oil, ethyl and methyl esters of rapeseed oil, distilled monoglycerides, 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 thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising adding at least one additional solid lubricant at step (a), step (b), or steps (a) and (b), the additional solid lubricant comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, boron nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, 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 thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an anti-oxidant or an anti-corrosion material is added at step (a), or at step (b), or at both steps (a) and (b).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing the dry milled nanoparticle composition with a base prior to wet milling.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the base comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of oil, grease, plastic, gel, wax, silicone, hydrocarbon oil, vegetable oil, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, paraffin oil, synthetic oil, petroleum gel, petroleum grease, hydrocarbon gel, hydrocarbon grease, lithium based grease, fluoroether based grease, ethylenebistearamide, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a biocidal is added at step (a), or at step (b), or at both steps (a) and (b).

9. A solid lubricant nanoparticle composition comprising:

a plurality of nanoparticles having an open-ended architecture; and

an organic medium intercalated in the nanoparticles; and

wherein at least a portion of the nanoparticles have an average particle dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nm.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticles are encapsulated or coated with the organic medium.

11. The composition of claim 9, further comprising a base, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.25% to about 5% nanoparticles by weight dispersed in the base.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.5% to about 2% nanoparticles by weight.

13. The composition of claim 9, further comprising an emulsifier.

14. The composition of claim 13, comprising from about 0.5% to about 10% emulsifier by weight.

15. The composition of claim 14, comprising from about 0.75% to about 2.25% emulsifier by weight.

16. The composition of claim 13, 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 thereof

17. The composition of claim 9, further comprising an antioxidant.

18. The composition of claim 17, 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 thereof.

19. The composition of claim 9, further comprising an anticorrosion agent.

20. The composition of claim 19, wherein the anticorrosion agent comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal bisalkylphenolsulphonates, dithiophosphates, alkenylsuccinic acid half-amides, and combinations thereof.

21. The composition of claim 9, wherein the nanoparticles comprise at least one layered material selected from the group consisting of chalcogenides, molybdenum disulphide, tungsten disulphide, graphite, boron nitride, and combinations thereof.

22. The composition of claim 9, wherein the organic medium comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of oil mediums, grease mediums, alcohol mediums, composite oil, canola oil, vegetable oils, soybean oil, corn oil, ethyl and methyl esters of rapeseed oil, distilled monoglycerides, 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 thereof.

23. The composition of claim 9, further comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, boron nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, 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 thereof.

24. The composition of claim 9, further comprising a base comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of oil, grease, plastic, gel, wax, silicone, hydrocarbon oil, vegetable oil, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, paraffin oil, synthetic oil, petroleum gel, petroleum grease, hydrocarbon gel, hydrocarbon grease, lithium based grease, fluoroether based grease, ethylenebistearamide, and combinations thereof, wherein the nanoparticles are dispersed in the base.

25. The nanoparticle composition of claim 9, further comprising at least one biocidal.

26. The nanoparticle composition of claim 25, wherein the biocidal comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkyl or hydroxylamine benzothiazole, an amine salt of a partial alkyl ester of an alkyl, alkenyl succinic acid, and combinations thereof.

27. The nanoparticle composition of claim 9, wherein the organic medium comprises a phospholipid.

28. A method comprising:

lubricating an object with a nanoparticle composition, the nanoparticle composition comprising;

a plurality of nanoparticles having an open-ended architecture; and

an organic medium intercalated in the nanoparticles;

wherein at least a portion of the nanoparticles have an average particle dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nm.

29. A method comprising:

delivering an agent with a nanoparticle composition, the nanoparticle composition comprising;

a plurality of nanoparticles having an open-ended architecture; and

an organic medium intercalated in the nanoparticles; and

the agent;

wherein at least a portion of the nanoparticles have an average particle dimension of less than or equal to about 500 nm.