Nanoparticle macro-compositions
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention may include a macro-composition with a special structure. The structure includes a layered macro-composition made of a nanoparticle as an inner nucleus, an intermediate layer around the nucleus, and an outer layer intercalated with the nucleus or encapsulating the nucleus and the intermediate layer. A plurality of the layered macro-compositions is bonded together by bonds, so that each layered macro-composition is bonded to at least one other such layered macro-composition. Embodiments include a macro-composition made of three 3-layered macro-compositions joined in a chain by two bonds. These macro-composition assemblies may take the shape of layered macro-compositions bonded together in chains, or forming other shapes, such as rings. Embodiments may be added to lubricants such as oil or grease, to increase their performance.
1. A layered nanoparticle macro-composition, comprising:
a nanoparticle inner nucleus;
an intermediate layer around the nucleus;
an outer layer intercalated with the nucleus or encapsulating the nucleus and the intermediate layer; and
wherein the inner nucleus has an open architecture.
2. The macro-composition of claim 1 , further comprising:
a number of additional layered macro-compositions, all together being a plurality of layered macro-compositions; and
a plurality of bonds each bonded to least two of the layered macro-compositions, such that each of the macro-compositions is bonded to at least one other of the macro-compositions by a bond.
3. The macro-composition of claim 2 , wherein the bonds are members of the group comprising ionic bonds, van der Waals bonds, dipolar bonds, and covalent bonds.
4. The macro-composition in claim 2 , wherein the bonds comprise a component of another material to which a plurality of the layered macro-compositions are intercalated.
5. The macro-composition of claim 4 , wherein the other material of the bonds is a member of the group consisting of grease, lithium complex grease, oil, hydrocarbons, polytetrafluorethylene, 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.
6. The macro-composition in claim 1 , wherein the macro-composition is no more than about 100 nanometers in size.
7. The macro-composition in claim 2 , wherein the bonds have an average length of no more than about 100 nanometers.
8. The macro-composition of claim 2 , wherein the nucleus comprises a material which is a member of the group consisting of chalcogenides, molybdenum disulphide, tungsten disulphide, graphite, boron nitride, polytetrafluoroethylene, 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.
9. The macro-composition of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a material which is a member of 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.
10. The macro-composition of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises an anti-oxidant comprising 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.
11. The macro-composition of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises an anti-corrosion material comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal bisalkylphenolsulphonates, dithiophosphates, alkenylsuccinic acid half-amides, and combinations thereof.
12. The macro-composition of claim 2 , wherein the outer layer comprises one or more materials which are a member of the group consisting of oil, grease, alcohol, 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.
13. The macro-composition of claim 2 , further comprising a volume of lubricant, in which the layered macro-compositions are dispersed.
14. The macro-composition of claim 13 , wherein the lubricant is a member of the group consisting of grease, oil, gear oil, lithium complex grease, and coatings.
15. A macro-composition comprising:
a plurality of nanoparticle inner nuclei;
on each nucleus, an outer layer intercalated with the nucleus or encapsulating the nucleus, the layer with the nucleus forming a layered nanoparticle;
a plurality of bonds, each bond bonded to at least two of the layered nanoparticles, such that each layered nanoparticle is bonded to at least one other of the layered nanoparticles by a bond; and
wherein the inner nuclei each have an open architecture.
16. The macro-composition of claim 15 , wherein the bonds are members of the group comprising ionic bonds, van der Waals bonds, dipolar bonds, and covalent bonds.
17. The macro-composition in claim 15 , wherein the bonds comprise a component of another material to which a plurality of the layered macro-compositions are intercalated.
18. The macro-composition of claim 17 , wherein the other material of the bonds is a member of the group consisting of grease, lithium complex grease, oil, hydrocarbons, polytetrafluorethylene, 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.
19. The macro-composition of claim 15 , wherein the nuclei comprise a material which is a member of the group consisting of chalcogenides, molybdenum disulphide, tungsten disulphide, graphite, boron nitride, polytetrafluoroethylene, 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.
20. The macro-composition of claim 15 , wherein the outer layers comprise one of the materials which a member of the group consisting of oil, grease, alcohol, 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.
21. A method of making a lubricant formulation, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of layered nanoparticle macro-compositions, each macro-composition comprising:
a nanoparticle inner nucleus;
an intermediate layer around the nucleus;
an outer layer intercalated with the nucleus or encapsulating the nucleus and the intermediate layer;
wherein the inner nucleus has an open architecture;
mixing the plurality of macro-compositions with a lubricant;
forming a plurality of bonds between the plurality of macro-compositions in the lubricant, such that each of the macro-compositions is bonded to at least one other of the macro-compositions by a bond.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the lubricant is a member of the group consisting of grease, oil, gear oil, lithium complex grease, and coatings.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the bonds comprise a component of the lubricant to which a plurality of the layered macro-compositions are intercalated.
24. A method of making a lubricant formulation, the method comprising:
providing a macro-composition comprising:
a plurality of nanoparticle inner nuclei;
on each nucleus, an outer layer intercalated with the nucleus or encapsulating the nucleus, the layer with the nucleus forming a layered nanoparticle;
a plurality of bonds, each bond bonded to at least two of the layered nanoparticles, such that each layered nanoparticle is bonded to at least one other of the layered nanoparticles by a bond; and
wherein the inner nuclei each have an open architecture;
mixing the macro-compositions with a lubricant of the group consisting of grease, oil, gear oil, lithium complex grease, and coatings.
25. A method of lubricating a material, the method comprising:
contacting a surface of the material with the layered nanoparticle macro-composition of claim 1 ,
wherein the macro-composition localizes into spaces between asperities of the lubricated surface, and wherein under frictional conditions, the inner nucleus plastically deforms, thereby forming a lubricating tribofilm between asperities of contacting surfaces.
26. A lubricated material comprising:
a surface comprising asperities; and
the layered nanoparticle macro-composition of claim 1 ;
wherein under frictional conditions, the inner nucleus plastically deforms, thereby forming a lubricating tribofilm between asperities of contacting surfaces.