Trimetaspheres as Dry Lubricants, Wet Lubricants, Lubricant Additives, Lubricant Coatings, Corrosion-Resistant Coatings and Thermally-Conductive Materials
A 3-n X n N@C 80 endohedral metallofullerenes used as or in lubricant, lubricant additive, corrosion-resistant, and thermally conductive materials are disclosed. Methods of making and using are provided.
1 . A lubricant comprising at least one trimetasphere.
2 . The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere has a water contact angle of between about 106 and about 112.
3 . The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere is stable at temperatures up to about 750° F. in air and up to about 2300° F. in a vacuum.
4 . The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is a dry or wet lubricant.
5 . The lubricant of claim 6 , wherein when the lubricant is a dry lubricant, the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a graphite, a metal dichalogenide, MX 2 (wherein M=molybdenum or tungsten and X=sulphur or selenium), MoS 2 , PTFE, a metal powder, talc, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, niobium disulfide, boron nitride, ditelluride, diselenide of a Group V or VI metal and combinations thereof.
6 . The lubricant of claim 4 , wherein when the lubricant is a wet lubricant the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an organic fluid and a mixture of organic fluids.
7 . A method of making a lubricant, the method comprising forming the lubricant so that it comprises at least one trimetasphere.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere has a water contact angle of between about 106 and about 112.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere is stable at temperatures up to about 750° F. in air and up to about 2300° F. in a vacuum.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the lubricant is a dry or wet lubricant.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein when the lubricant is a dry lubricant the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a graphite, a metal dichalogenide, MX 2 (wherein M=molybdenum or tungsten and X=sulphur or selenium), MoS 2 , PTFE, a metal powder, talc, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, niobium disulfide, boron nitride, ditelluride, diselenide of a Group V or VI metal and combinations thereof.
12 . The lubricant of claim 10 , wherein when the lubricant is a wet lubricant the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an organic fluid and a mixture of organic fluids.
13 . A method of lubricating an article, the method comprising applying a lubricant comprising at least one trimetasphere to the article.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere has a water contact angle of between about 106 and about 112.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere is stable at temperatures of up to about 750° F. in air and up to about 2300° F. in a vacuum.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the lubricant is a dry or wet lubricant.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein when the lubricant is a dry lubricant, the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a graphite, a metal dichalogenide, MX 2 (wherein M=molybdenum or tungsten and X=sulphur or selenium), MoS 2 , PTFE, a metal powder, talc, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, niobium disulfide, boron nitride, ditelluride, diselenide of a Group V or VI metal and combinations thereof.
18 . The lubricant of claim 16 , wherein when the lubricant is a wet lubricant the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an organic fluid and a mixture of organic fluids.
19 . A lubricant additive comprising at least one trimetasphere.
20 . The additive of claim 19 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere has a water contact angle of between about 106 and about 112.
21 . The additive of claim 19 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere is stable at temperatures up to about 750° F. in air and up to about 2300° F. in a vacuum.
22 . The additive of claim 19 , wherein the additive is formulated so that it can be added to a wet or dry lubricant.
23 . The additive of claim 22 , wherein when the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of a graphite, a metal dichalogenide, MX 2 (wherein M=molybdenum or tungsten and X=sulphur or selenium), MoS 2 , PTFE, a metal powder, talc, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, niobium disulfide, boron nitride, ditelluride, diselenide of a Group V or VI metal and combinations thereof.
24 . The lubricant of claim 22 , wherein when the lubricant is a wet lubricant the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an organic fluid and a mixture of organic fluids.
25 . A method of making a lubricant additive, the method comprising formulating the additive to comprise at least one trimetasphere.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere has a water contact angle of between about 106 and about 112.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere is stable at temperatures up to about 750° F. in air and up to about 2300° F. in a vacuum.
28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the additive is formulated for use in a wet or dry lubricant.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein when the lubricant is a dry lubricant, the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a graphite, a metal dichalogenide, MX 2 (wherein M=molybdenum or tungsten and X=sulphur or selenium), MoS 2 , PTFE, a metal powder, talc, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, niobium disulfide, boron nitride, ditelluride, diselenide of a Group V or VI metal and combinations thereof.
30 . The lubricant of claim 28 , wherein when the lubricant is a wet lubricant the lubricant further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an organic fluid and a mixture of organic fluids.
31 . A method of lubricating an article, the method comprising applying a lubricant additive comprising at least one trimetasphere to the article.
32 . A lubricant coating comprising the lubricant of claim 1 .
33 . A lubricant coating comprising the lubricant additive of claim 19 .
34 . A corrosion-resistant coating comprising at least one trimetasphere.
35 . The coating of claim 34 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere has a water contact angle of between about 106 and about 112.
36 . The coating of claim 34 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere is stable at temperatures up to about 750° F. in air and up to about 2300° F. in a vacuum.
37 . A corrosion-resistant article, coated with the corrosion-resistant coating of claim 34 .
38 . A method of inhibiting corrosion of an article, the method comprising applying at least one trimetasphere to the article.
39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere has a water contact angle of between about 106 and about 112.
40 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere is stable at temperatures up to about 750° F. in air and up to about 2300° F. in a vacuum.
41 . A thermally-conductive material comprising at least one trimetasphere.
42 . The material of claim 41 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere has a water contact angle of between about 106 and about 112.
43 . The material of claim 41 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere is stable at temperatures up to about 750° F. in air and up to about 2300° F. in a vacuum.
44 . The material of claim 41 , wherein the at least one trimetasphere exhibits a thermal conductivity of about 0.4 W/mK at about 300 K.
45 . A method of making a thermally-conductive material, the method comprising forming the material so that the material comprises at least one trimetasphere.