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US 11,686,719 B2Granted
Grease evaluation
AssigneeBoard of Supervisors of Louisiana State Univ. A.M.
InventorsMichael M. Khonsari, Lijesh Koottaparambil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of evaluating viscous compositions are disclosed. The methods may be used to evaluate degradation levels of lubricants including grease. The methods may include preparing a surface for testing by leveling and flattening a viscous composition, placing a drop of a liquid on the flattened leveled surface, evaluating the observed contact angle between the drop and the surface, and then comparing the observed contact angle to a reference contact angle.
Claims17
A method of evaluating properties comprising:
- a. acquiring a sample of a mechanically used grease;
- b. preparing a sample surface for testing by:
- i. positioning a first portion of the sample and a second portion of the sample in a container,
- ii. scraping the second portion of the sample from the first portion of the sample thereby removing the second portion of the sample from the first portion of the sample, and
- iii. leveling an item selected from the sample surface and the container,
- iv. wherein the scraping of the second portion of the sample from the first portion of the sample exposes an internal portion of the sample at the sample surface, and
- v. wherein the scraping of the second portion of the sample from the first portion of the sample creates a flattened surface of the mechanically used grease;
- c. placing a drop of a liquid on the sample surface;
- and
- d. evaluating an observed contact angle between the drop and the sample surface;
- e. wherein the observed contact angle correlates with a volumetric property of the mechanically used grease.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.