U.S. patent application number 10/944452 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for friction-induced in-situ formation of organo-fluorides.
This patent application is currently assigned to Platinum Research Organization LLC. Invention is credited to Pranesh B. Aswath, Ronald L. Elsenbaumer, F. Conrad Greer, Md. Zahedul Huq.
Application Number | 20060063682 10/944452 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36074810 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060063682 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huq; Md. Zahedul ; et
al. |
March 23, 2006 |
Friction-induced in-situ formation of organo-fluorides
Abstract
A method for forming in-situ a fluorinated organic compound or
polymer film from the friction-induced reaction of an organic
material, such as zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), and a
fluoridated material, such as iron fluoride (FeF.sub.3) on or in
proximity to a wear surface substrate. Also disclosed is a method
for producing a lubricated wear surface by frictionally reacting an
organic material and a fluoridated material near a wear surface,
where the reaction product is a fluorinated organic compound bonded
to the wear surface.
Inventors: |
Huq; Md. Zahedul;
(Farmington Hills, MI) ; Aswath; Pranesh B.;
(Grapevine, TX) ; Elsenbaumer; Ronald L.;
(Arlington, TX) ; Greer; F. Conrad; (Coppell,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DALLAS OFFICE OF FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
2200 ROSS AVENUE
SUITE 2800
DALLAS
TX
75201-2784
US
|
Assignee: |
Platinum Research Organization
LLC
Dallas
TX
|
Family ID: |
36074810 |
Appl. No.: |
10/944452 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
508/129 ;
508/165; 508/171; 508/172; 508/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C10N 2010/06 20130101;
C10N 2010/14 20130101; C10M 2201/081 20130101; C10N 2030/06
20130101; C10N 2010/02 20130101; C10N 2050/015 20200501; C10M
159/12 20130101; C10N 2010/08 20130101; C10M 2223/045 20130101;
C10N 2060/08 20130101; C10M 141/10 20130101; C10M 2223/047
20130101; C10M 2201/041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
508/129 ;
508/165; 508/171; 508/172; 508/371 |
International
Class: |
C10M 159/12 20060101
C10M159/12 |
Claims
1. A method for providing lubrication and wear protection to a wear
surface comprising: providing a fluorinated material and an organic
material proximal to a wear surface; and forming an fluorinated
organic compound in contact with the wear surface by
friction-induced reaction of the fluorinated material with the
organic material.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluorinated material is a
metal fluoride.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wear surface is a catalyst for
said step of forming a fluorinated organic compound.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluorinated material is
selected from the group consisting of: ferric fluoride (FeF.sub.3),
aluminum trifluoride (AlF.sub.3), cryolite (Na.sub.3AlF.sub.6),
zirconium tetrafluoride (ZrF.sub.4), titanium trifluoride
(TiF.sub.3), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF.sub.4), tin fluoride
(SnF.sub.2 and SnF.sub.4), transition metal fluorides, and
combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic material is selected
from the group consisting of: zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP),
graphite, dialkyldithiophosphate, organic compounds with weakly
bonded alkyl and aryl groups, and combinations thereof.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wear surface is selected from
the group consisting of: metal, ceramic, plastic, glass, wood,
mineral, and combinations thereof.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the wear surface is a substrate
for said friction-induced reaction.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said fluorinated organic compound
is bonded to said wear surface.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said fluorinated organic compound
is a polymer film weakly bonded to said wear surface.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said fluorinated material is in
particle form.
11. A method of manufacturing a lubricant comprising: adding a
fluorinated material to a base oil; adding an organic material to
the base oil; and frictionally reacting in-situ the fluorinated
material and the organic material to form a fluorinated organic
compound.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the fluorinated material is
selected from the group consisting of: ferric fluoride (FeF.sub.3),
aluminum trifluoride (AlF.sub.3), cryolite (Na.sub.3AlF.sub.6),
zirconium tetrafluoride (ZrF.sub.4), titanium trifluoride
(TiF.sub.3), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF.sub.4), tin fluoride
(SnF.sub.2 and SnF.sub.4), transition metal fluorides, and
combinations thereof.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the organic material is selected
from the group consisting of: zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP),
graphite, dialkyldithiophosphate, organic compounds with weakly
bonded alkyl and aryl groups, and combinations thereof.
14. An engine oil produced according to the method of claim 11.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluorinated material is a
particulate.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the base oil is selected from
the group consisting of: mineral oil, hydrocarbon oil, grease,
light oil, synthetic oil, polymer oil, and combinations
thereof.
17. A method for producing a lubricated wear surface comprising the
steps of: providing a wear surface; providing a fluorinated
material and an organic material proximal to the wear surface;
reacting the fluorinated material with the organic material by
exposing the fluorinated material and organic material to wear
surface friction by-products and forming a fluorinated organic
compound bonded to said wear surface.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the fluorinated material is
selected from the group consisting of: ferric fluoride (FeF.sub.3),
aluminum trifluoride (AlF.sub.3), cryolite (Na.sub.3AlF.sub.6),
zirconium tetrafluoride (ZrF.sub.4), titanium trifluoride
(TiF.sub.3), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF.sub.4), tin fluoride
(SnF.sub.2 and SnF.sub.4), transition metal fluorides, and
combinations thereof.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the organic material is selected
from the group consisting of: zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP),
graphite, dialkyldithiophosphate, organic compounds with weakly
bonded alkyl and aryl groups, and combinations thereof.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the fluorinated organic compound
is a polymer film weakly bonded to said wear surface.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to the preparation of
fluorinated organic material. More specifically, the invention
relates to the preparation of fluorinated organic material
resulting from the friction-induced reaction of fluoride material
with organic material.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is known that fluoride material such as fluorinated
organic compounds (CF.sub.x) in the presence of heat and/or
friction on a metal surface can create new compositions on the
surface, such as metal fluorides (MF). This can be illustrated as:
##STR1##
[0003] This reaction may provide a wear-protected surface. In one
example, the fluorinated organic compound to be reacted may be
Teflon.RTM. or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). When added to, for
example, a lubricant medium such as oil or grease, under heat and
friction on a metal surface, the PTFE can be caused to chemically
bond to the surface and protect the surface from wear. In these
known methods, fluorinated organic compounds are always added to
the metal surface to provide lubrication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for
providing lubrication to a wear surface. A friction-induced in-situ
reaction is used to generate an organo-fluoride material with
anti-wear properties. The reactants may include fluoridated
compounds such as metal fluorides, boron fluorides, silicon
fluorides, and other non-metal fluoride moieties. The fluoridated
compounds may be used alone or in combination and are reacted with
an organic compound such as zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) or
graphite.
[0005] In other embodiments of the invention, organo-fluoride
material formed by reacting fluoridated compounds with an organic
compound may be bonded to a wear surface as a friction-induced
reaction progresses.
[0006] In yet another embodiment of the invention, a
friction-driven reaction may be used to make a material with
lubricating properties. In this embodiment, a suitable reaction
medium such as a base oil is chosen. A friction-induced reaction
between an organic compound and a fluoridated compound generates an
organo-fluoride as the reaction product. The reaction product
enhances the lubricating properties of the base oil in this
embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIGS. 1-3 are X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra
showing the presence of organo-fluoride on worn surfaces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] A method disclosed herein forms a lubricated wear surface as
one embodiment. A fluorinated organic compound or polymer (CF,)
produced in an in-situ friction-induced reaction of small particles
or molecules of a fluorinated compound with an organic compound,
such as, for example, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) or
graphite. Organic compounds with weakly bonded alkyl and aryl
groups are particularly suited for use in the present invention.
The fluorinated organic compound forms on and/or in proximity to
contact surfaces during friction and wear. In some embodiments, the
fluorinated organic material works as a low-friction and
wear-resistant film. The use of a metal fluoride, such as
FeF.sub.3, with ZDDP creates fluorinated organic compounds that
provide better lubrication than ZDDP alone can provide on the wear
surface.
[0009] The in-situ chemical reaction occurs with varieties of metal
fluorides or other fluorine-containing species under a range of
temperatures, contact stresses and relative speeds. This technology
can be used in many different applications, such as in lubricants
for automobile and aircraft engines or in other applications using
moving components in need of lubrication. The method disclosed
herein provides a novel means to alter the surface composition of
metal, ceramics, plastics and the like through a friction-induced
chemical reaction that produces functionally improved surface
performance for industrial, commercial, domestic and other
purposes. The invention may also be used to provide a desirable
low-friction hydrophobic coating for some applications.
[0010] It has been demonstrated in friction and wear tests that
exposing fluoridated compounds such as metal fluorides (MF) in the
presence of organics, such as ZDDP, to heat, friction and/or wear
on a metal surface will produce fluorinated organic compounds
(CF.sub.x) on the wear surface. This reaction can be illustrated
as: ##STR2##
[0011] The metal fluorides that may be used with the invention
include, for example, iron fluoride, titanium fluoride, aluminum
fluoride, tungsten fluoride, and combinations of various metal
fluorides. The metal fluoride is consumed during the reaction,
unlike a catalyst. The metal fluoride may retain some catalytic
functions in some embodiments. Embodiments of the invention may
employ other compounds such as boron fluorides, silicon fluorides,
and other non-metal fluoride moieties. Below is a specific example
using iron trifluoride (FeF.sub.3), which is converted to the
difluoride moiety as the reaction progresses. ##STR3##
[0012] In this example, the ZDDP reacts with the iron trifluoride
under friction and wear conditions and is converted into a
fluorinated organic material on the wear surface, such as the metal
surface of an engine. This reaction has been observed to occur with
the same results at varying loading pressures. The reaction
illustrated above is not a normal degradation of the organic
material (ZDDP). Instead, the iron tri-fluoride (FeF.sub.3) is
consumed by the reaction with the organic material (ZDDP). The
benefit of this reaction is that fluorinated organic materials are
known lubricants, so the creation of fluorinated organic compounds
on the wear surface provides thermal protection, wear resistance
and lubrication directly at the point of highest need. In some
embodiments, the wear surface material may be chosen to catalyze
the reaction of the fluoride-containing material and the organic
compound.
[0013] It will be understood that other fluorine-containing
compounds may be used in place of or in addition to ferric fluoride
(FeF.sub.3), including, for example, aluminum trifluoride
(AlF.sub.3), cryolite (Na.sub.3AlF.sub.6), zirconium tetrafluoride
(ZrF.sub.4), titanium trifluoride (TiF.sub.3), titanium
tetrafluoride (TiF.sub.4), tin fluoride (SnF.sub.2 and SnF.sub.4)
and the like, and combinations thereof. Transition metal fluorides
are used in certain embodiments. It will be further understood that
a wide range of other organics may be used in place of ZDDP. Select
inorganic compounds may be used in some embodiments, such as, for
example, boron- or silicon-containing compounds.
[0014] In the above-illustrated reaction, the MF and organics react
under friction and/or heat to create new materials, fluorinated
organic materials, that are known lubricants. In an exemplary
embodiment, no fluorinated organic materials are present at the
beginning of the reaction. However, in the presence of heat and/or
friction during wear, fluorinated organic compounds are formed and
act as a lubricant on the wear surface. In other embodiments,
fluorinated organic compounds that have poor or no lubricant
properties may be present at the beginning of the reaction and, in
the presence of metal fluorides, these non-lubricant fluorinated
organic compounds react under heat and friction to create other
fluorinated organic materials that are good lubricants and
wear-reducing agents. In some embodiments, heat is not required for
reaction progression, and may occur at ambient temperatures and
pressure. The use of a metal fluoride, such as FeF.sub.3, with ZDDP
creates fluorinated organic compounds that provide better
lubrication and wear protection than ZDDP alone can provide on the
wear surface.
[0015] The reactants may be brought into contact by dissolving them
in an appropriate solvent or medium. Certain reactants may be in
particle form and may be prepared for the reaction by generating a
suspension of those particles. The particle size may vary in
embodiments of the invention, but are sub-micron in size in a
preferred embodiment. The fluorinated reactant compound is usually
provided in a particle form, but the organic reactant compound may
also be in particle form in some embodiments.
[0016] The beneficial results of the present invention may be
demonstrated by friction and wear tests using, for example, a
ball-on-ring unidirectional sliding type Plint machine. FIGS. 1-3
illustrate results of friction and wear tests that were conducted
at approximately 25.degree. C. for a range of contact pressures for
iron fluoride (FeF.sub.3) in combination with ZDDP. No
organo-fluorides were present at the start of the test. The spectra
of FIGS. 1-3 are XPS analyses of wear surfaces for ball surface
pressures of 2.32, 2.93 and 3.68 GPa, respectively.
[0017] Two distinct F1s peaks appear in each FIGURE. The peaks that
at approximately 690 eV (101, 201, 301) are identified as fluorine
bound to carbon, as found in fluorinated organic materials,
CF.sub.n (where n.gtoreq.1). The peak at about 685.5 eV is
identified as F bound to a metal, such as FeF.sub.3. The
organo-fluorides (CF.sub.n) form in-situ on the wear surface and
help to protect the surface from further wearing. Because no
fluorinate organic compounds were present at the beginning of the
wear test, it is apparent that the CF.sub.n is created from the
interaction of the ZDDP and FeF.sub.3 on or near the metal surface.
No fluorinated organic compounds are observed by conducting the
same tests without ZDDP present.
[0018] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the
scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to
the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture,
composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the
specification. As one will readily appreciate from the disclosure,
processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,
methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that
perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially
the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein
may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to
include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture,
compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
* * * * *