Activated gaseous species for improved lubrication
AssigneeTriboFilm Research, Inc.
InventorsJackson Thornton, Vinay G. Sakhrani, Charles Tomasino, Robert A. Mineo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present application is directed to methods and devices for altering material properties of lubricants and other cross-linkable compounds comprising organic or organometallic materials through exposure to energized gaseous species. The energized gaseous species may create reactive sites among lubricant molecules that may alter their material properties by cross-linking at least a portion of the lubricant molecules. The cross-linked lubricant may reduce the ability of the lubricant to migrate away when force is applied between lubricated sliding friction surfaces.
Claims33
An article comprising a surface with a lubricant on the surface, the lubricant treated by:
- introducing a gas stream comprising one or more gases into an activation zone of a device used to produce energized gaseous species;
- generating one or more energized gaseous species in the activation zone;
- moving at least a portion of the gas stream and the energized gaseous species apart from the activation zone;
- separating at least a portion of any charged species generated in the activation zone from the gas stream, creating an uncharged energized gaseous species-rich gas stream;
- directing the uncharged energized gaseous species-rich gas stream in proximity to the lubricant;
- and
- allowing the uncharged energized gaseous species-rich gas stream to react with the lubricant, thereby altering the material properties of at least a portion of the lubricant.
An article comprising a surface with a lubricant on the surface, the lubricant treated by:
- introducing a gas stream into an activation zone of a device used to produce energized gaseous species;
- generating one or more energized gaseous species in the activation zone;
- moving at least a portion of the gas stream and energized gaseous species apart from the activation zone;
- causing at least a portion of any charged species in the gas stream to react with one another to form neutral species;
- separating at least a portion of any remaining charged species from the gas stream and retaining at least a portion of any uncharged energized gaseous species in the gas stream;
- directing the gas stream and retained energized gaseous species in proximity to a lubricant on a surface;
- and
- allowing the gas stream and retained energized gaseous species to react with the lubricant, thereby altering the material properties of at least a portion of the lubricant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.