Boundary friction reducing lubricating composition

Abstract

There is disclosed a lubricating composition having a base oil, a friction modifier, and a dispersant, wherein the lubricating composition has less than about 325 ppm of boron. Methods of making and using the disclosed lubricating composition are also disclosed.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]1. Field of the Disclosure[0002]The present disclosure relates to a lubricating composition comprising a base oil, a friction modifier, and a dispersant, wherein the lubricating composition comprises less than about 325 ppm of boron.[0003]1. Background of the Disclosure[0004]In recent years, there has been growing concern to produce energy-efficient lubricated components. Moreover, modern engine oil specifications require lubricants to demonstrate fuel efficiency in standardized engine tests. The thickness and frictional characteristics of lubricant films are known to affect the fuel economy properties of oils.[0005]When rubbing surfaces in a machine (engine, gear system or transmission) come in contact a frictional force exists that retards the motion of the surfaces. This frictional force, called boundary friction, reduces the efficiency of the machine.[0006]It is known that non-nitrogen-containing and molybdenum-containing friction modifiers red...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]In some aspects, the ashless dispersant can include one or more alkenyl succinimides of an amine having at least one primary amino group capable of forming an imide group. The alkenyl succinimides can be formed by conventional methods such as by heating an alkenyl succinic anhydride, acid, acid-ester, acid halide, or lower alkyl ester with an amine containing at least one primary amino group. The alkenyl succinic anhydride can be made readily by heating a mixture of polyolefin and maleic anhydride to about 180°-220° C. The polyolefin can be a polymer or copolymer of a lower monoolefin such as ethylene, propylene, isobutene and the like, having a number average molecular weight in the range of about 300 to about 3000 as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

[0036]A dispersant can be further reacted with an organic acid, an anhydride, and / or an aldehyde / phenol mixture. Such a process can enhance compatibility with elastomer seals, for example. The borated dispersant can further include a mixture of borated dispersants. As a further example, the borated dispersant can include a nitrogen-containing dispersant and / or may be free of phosphorus.

[0072]The disclosed lubricating composition can reduce boundary friction on a surface of a machine as compared to a surface that is not lubricated with the disclosed lubricating composition. In an aspect, the lubricating composition can be applied / provided to any surface of any machine, such as for example an engine, a gear, etc.

[0076]The Comparative Example 2 illustrated that a non-nitrogen-containing compound reduced boundary friction by 27% as compared to Comparative Example 1, which did not contain a friction modifier. However, the combination of a non-nitrogen-containing compound and a non-boron-containing dispersant (Invention 2) reduced boundary friction by 46% as compared to Comparative Example 1. Moreover, mixtures of a boron-containing and a non-boron-containing compound with a non-nitrogen-containing compound (Inventions 3 and 4) produced lower boundary friction coefficients as compared to Comparative Example 2.

[0077]Comparative Examples 3 and 4 illustrated that a molybdenum-containing compound and a boron-containing dispersant reduced boundary friction by 26% and 30%, respectively, as compared to the boron-containing dispersant alone (Comparative Example 1). However, the combination of a molybdenum-containing compound and a non-boron-containing dispersant (Inventions 5 and 6) reduced boundary friction by 36% and 61%, respectively.

[0078]Comparative Example 5 illustrated that a combination of a boron-containing dispersant, a non-nitrogen-containing compound, and a molybdenum-containing compound reduced boundary friction by 22%, as compared to Comparative Example 1. However, Invention 7 illustrated that a combination of a non-boron-containing dispersant, a non-nitrogen-containing compound, and a molybdenum-containing compound reduced boundary friction by 37%, as compared to Comparative Example 1.

Problems solved by technology

This frictional force, called boundary friction, reduces the efficiency of the machine.