MICROENCAPSULATED ENGINE LUBRICANT ADDITIVES
An engine lubricating system for an internal combustion engine. The system comprises a vehicle engine; a circulation system for providing a continuing flow of lubricant to the vehicle engine and engine components; and a lubricant disposed within the circulation system. The lubricant comprises a base oil and at least one microencapsulated oil additive. The microencapsulated oil additive is selectively released into the lubricant based one or more localized event. The localized event may include a predetermined temperature change, a predetermined pH change, a localized high friction contact, and combinations thereof.
1 . An engine lubricating system for an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
a vehicle engine;
a circulation system for providing a continuing flow of lubricant to the vehicle engine and engine components; and
a lubricant disposed within the circulation system, the lubricant comprising a base oil and at least one microencapsulated oil additive,
wherein the microencapsulated oil additive is selectively released into the lubricant based on one or more localized event.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the oil additive is selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, friction modifiers, dispersants, detergents, antifoam agents, aeration reducers, and combinations thereof.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the microencapsulated oil additive comprises an oil additive enclosed within a polymer coating selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyesters, polycyanoacrylates, phenol-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde resins, and combinations thereof.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the microencapsulated oil additive has an average particle diameter size of less than about 10 μm.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the localized event comprises a predetermined change in temperature of the lubricant.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the localized event comprises a predetermined change in pH of the lubricant.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the localized event comprises a high friction contact between an engine component and the encapsulated oil additive disposed within the lubricant.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the microencapsulated oil additive is provided in an amount from about 10 wt % to about 15 wt % in excess of a theoretical amount of additive required for the expected life of the engine.
9 . An engine oil lubricant, comprising:
a base oil; and
at least one microencapsulated oil additive,
wherein the microencapsulated oil additive is selectively released into the engine oil lubricant based on one or more localized event.
10 . The engine oil lubricant of claim 9 , wherein the microencapsulated oil additive has an average particle diameter of less than about 10 μm.
11 . The engine oil lubricant of claim 9 , wherein the oil additive is selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, friction modifiers, dispersants, detergents, antifoam agents, aeration reducers, and combinations thereof.
12 . The engine oil lubricant of claim 9 , wherein the oil additive comprises a hindered phenolic antioxidant.
13 . The engine oil lubricant of claim 9 , wherein the microencapsulated oil additive comprises an oil additive enclosed within a polymer coating selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyesters, polycyanoacrylates, phenol-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde resins, and combinations thereof.
14 . The engine oil lubricant of claim 13 , wherein the polymer coating degrades to fragments having an average particle size of less than about 1 μm after the localized event.
15 . The engine oil lubricant according to claim 9 , wherein the selective release of the microencapsulated oil additive is based on a localized event selected from the group consisting of a predetermined temperature change, a predetermined pH change, a localized high friction contact, and combinations thereof.
16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the base oil comprises a mineral oil derived mixture.
17 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the base oil comprises a synthetic ester derived mixture.
18 . A method of providing the controlled release of additives in engine oil lubricant circulating within an engine, the method comprising:
providing a base engine oil including at least one microencapsulated oil additive; and
selectively releasing the microencapsulated oil additive into the engine oil lubricant based on one or more localized event within the engine.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the localized event comprises at least one of a predetermined temperature change, a predetermined pH change, a localized high friction contact, and combinations thereof.
20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the microencapsulated oil additive comprises an oil additive enclosed within a polymer coating selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyesters, polycyanoacrylates, phenol-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde resins, and combinations thereof.