Lubricant system and method of forming the same
A lubricant system is disclosed that is formed by contacting a fibrous network with oil and/or lubricating fluid having an affinity for the fibrous network. The fibrous network comprises oleophilic fibers having a diameter between 50 nm and 10 microns and a length that is at least times the diameter. In addition, the oleophilic fibers have an affinity for the oil and/or lubricating fluid.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a surface in need of lubrication,
a fibrous network in the form of a non-woven fabric affixed to the surface, the non-woven fabric being comprised of oleophilic fibers having a diameter between 100 nm and 1 micron, and a length that is at least 5 times the diameter, and
oil or lubricating fluid impregnated in the fibrous network.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrous network is in the form of a non-woven cloth, pad, or mat.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the surface is a surface of a seal, which is comprised of an elastomeric material.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the oleophilic fibers comprise a polymeric material that has been spun into fibers.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the polymeric material is comprised at least substantially of polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA).
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the fibrous network further comprises a cross-linking polymer that cross-links the oleophilic fibers, which have a higher molecular weight than the cross-linking polymer.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the cross-linking polymer polymer is a natural wax or a hydrocarbon wax.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the surface is a surface of a bearing cage, which is comprised of steel or polyamide.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the oleophilic fibers comprise a polymeric material that has been spun into fibers.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the polymeric material is comprised at least substantially of polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA).
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the fibrous network further comprises a cross-linking polymer that cross-links the oleophilic fibers, which have a higher molecular weight than the cross-linking polymer.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the cross-linking polymer polymer is a natural wax or a hydrocarbon wax.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the oil and the lubricating fluid comprises at least one of:
mineral oil obtained from crude oil,
group I, II and III lubricants, group IV lubricants, and
group V lubricants.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the oil and the lubricating fluid comprises at least one of mineral oil, synthetic ester, and plant-based oil and their derivatives.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the oil and the lubricating fluid comprises at least one of polyglycol (PG), polyalkylene glycol (PAG), white oil, silicone oil, very-high viscosity index oil (VHVI), glycerol and wax.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the oil and the lubricating fluid has a viscosity that is between 10 and 300 cSt at 40° C.
17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the oleophilic fibers comprise a polymeric material that has been spun into fibers.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the polymeric material is comprised at least substantially of at least one of polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA).
19. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the oleophilic fibers comprise at least one of polyamide (PA), nylon 6,6, polyamide-6,6 (PA-6,6), polyamide-4,6 (PA-4,6), polyurethane (PU), polybenzimidazole (PBI), polycarbonate (PC), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), acrylonitrile rubber (NBR), polyvinylalcohol (PVA), polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene-co-vinyl-acetate (PEVA), polymethacryate (PMMA), tetrahydroperfluorooctylacrylate (TAN), polyethylene oxide (PEO), collagen-PEO, polyaniline (PANI), polystyrene (PS), silk-like polymer with fibronectin functionality, polyvinylcarbazole, polyethylene terephtalate (PET), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polypyrene methanol (PM), polyvinylphenol (PVP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyacrylamide (PAAm), PLGA, polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), polyether imide (PEI), polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFDMS), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polymetha-phenylene isophthalamide, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polytetrafluorethene (PTFE), waxes, waxy polymers, polyolefins, polyesters, and polysulfones.
20. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the oleophilic fibers comprise at least two portions having different physical and/or chemical properties.
21. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the oleophilic fibers are comprised of a mixture of at least one polar polymer, and at least one non-polar polymer.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the oleophilic fibers are made from a block co-polymer.
23. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-woven fabric has the property that it shrinks as the temperature increases, thereby squeezing out lubricating fluid or oil.
24. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising another oleophilic fiber having a different melting temperature that is incorporated into the fibrous network.
25. The apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein at least the oleophilic fiber having the lowest melting temperature acts as a lubricant when the fibrous network is brought to a temperature above the melting temperature of the oleophilic fiber.
26. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrous network further comprises wax.
27. The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the wax is a natural wax or a hydrocarbon wax.
28. The apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the wax is bees wax or paraffin wax.
29. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrous network further comprises a cross-linking polymer that cross-links the oleophilic fibers, which have a higher molecular weight than the cross-linking polymer.
30. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the oil is polyalphaolefin, and
the oleophilic fibers are comprised of polypropylene (PP) fibers having an average fiber diameter of 350-450 nm.
31. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-woven fabric has a fiber thickness of between 2-200 layers of fibers.
32. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-woven fabric has a fiber thickness of between 10-100 layers of fibers.
33. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-woven fabric has a fiber thickness of between 10-50 layers of fibers.
34. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the oleophilic fibers are comprised of a mixture of polyethylene oxide (PEO), and at least one of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP).