Solid dry lubricant

Abstract

Disclosed are one or more techniques and / or systems for use in a dry product hopper to help improve the flow of dry product and improve the anti-clogging properties of the dry product. An exemplary lubricant can include a hydrophilic fiber, such as cellulose, having an aspect ratio that provides a fine fiber width to length. A plurality of hydrophobic particles are deposited on the surface of the fiber, causing the fiber surface to exhibit an amphiphobic property. In addition, the fiber can be operable to absorb water and then release the absorbed water to the surface of the fiber under mechanical stress, for example when mixed with the product in the hopper. This can result in the water being disposed on the surface of the fiber to provide lubrication to the product in the hopper to improve the flow characteristics and anti-clogging properties of the product in the hopper.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Product dispensing and / or distribution systems can be used to dispense or distribute a target product. As an example, an agricultural planter may include a hopper filled with target seeds, which are then dispensed and applied to a field during operation. Furthermore, cosmetic or pharmaceutical dispensing systems can be used during the production of a target product; and food ingredient dispensing systems can be used to dispense a target ingredient during the production of a specific food item. In these examples, various products may be subject to friction and mechanical stresses that can lead to caking, clogging, bulging, and other flow-related issues, which can result in undesirable dispensing problems. Summary of the Invention

[0002] This summary is provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form that will be further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to identify key factors or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0003] Described herein are one or more techniques and systems for using in a dry product hopper to help improve the dry product flow and improve the anti-clogging properties of the dry lubricant of the dry product. Adding a dry lubricant can help alleviate blockage and improve the flow of the product. For example, when mechanical stress (such as weight or pressure applied by the products stacked in the hopper) is applied, or when electrostatic charge is generated by friction, a lubricant can provide lubrication properties. In this embodiment, mechanical stress can cause water to move from the inside of the lubricant to the outside of the lubricant, which provides anti-clogging properties and improves the flow of the product in the hopper. In addition, the surface properties of the lubricant can provide dissipation of charge accumulation.

[0004] In one embodiment, a lubricant for use in a hopper feed system may include hydrophilic fibers having a width-to-length aspect ratio of at least greater than 1. Furthermore, a plurality of hydrophobic particles may be disposed on the surface of the fibers, resulting in the fiber surfaces exhibiting an amphiphobic property. In this embodiment, the fibers may be operable to absorb water and, under mechanical stress, release the absorbed water to the surfaces of the fibers. This may result in the water being disposed on the surfaces of the fibers, thereby operable to provide lubrication for a product in the hopper, thereby improving the flow characteristics and anti-clogging properties of the product in the hopper.

[0005] In another embodiment of an exemplary fiber-based lubricant, the fibers can include a positive charge. Additionally, the plurality of particles disposed on the surface of the fibers can include a negative charge. The combination of positively charged fibers and negatively charged particles provides the lubricant with the ability to operatively mitigate charges that may accumulate on the surface of a flowing product when subjected to friction by discharging electrostatic charges from the surfaces of the fibers or attached particles. This dissipation of charge can provide improved flow and mitigate bumps, blockages, and other product flow problems in a distribution or distribution system. Alternatively, the fibers can include a negative charge, and the plurality of particles disposed on the surface of the fibers can include a positive charge, to achieve similar results.

[0006] To achieve the aforementioned and related purposes, the following description and accompanying drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects and embodiments. These are merely indications of some of the various ways in which one or more aspects may be employed. Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a composition diagram illustrating one embodiment of an exemplary lubricant described herein.

[0008] Figure 2A 、 Figure 2B 、 Figure 2C and Figure 2D is a composition diagram illustrating one embodiment of one or more portions of one or more products described herein.

[0009] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for producing a lubricant that may be used in one or more systems described herein.

[0010] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for producing a fiber feedstock that may be used in one or more systems described herein.

[0011] Figure 5 is a composition diagram illustrating one embodiment of an exemplary lubricant described herein.

[0012] Figure 6 is a component diagram illustrating one embodiment of the use of one or more portions of one or more systems described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] The claimed subject matter will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, it will be apparent that the claimed subject matter can be practiced without these specific details. In other examples, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate description of the claimed subject matter.

[0014] In one aspect, can design a kind of lubricant that uses in dry product hopper to help improve dry product flow and improve the anti-blocking property of dry product.That is, for example, during from hopper distribution, some dry products are easy to block in hopper and / or may not flow effectively.Dry product (for example, seed) may be blocked together to form obstruction, and described obstruction may slow down the distribution of product from hopper.Adding dry lubricant can help alleviate obstruction, and improve the flow of product.In one embodiment, when applied mechanical stress (for example, weight or pressure applied by the product being stacked in hopper), lubricant can provide lubrication property.In this embodiment, mechanical stress can cause water to move to the lubricant outside from lubricant inside, and this provides anti-blocking property and improves the flow of the product in hopper.

[0015] Typically, a lubricant may be desirable to improve the flow of a product (e.g., seed, fertilizer, or some other pelletized product) from a hopper to a distribution or output location. In this example, if there is only one point of contact with the product, blockage may occur. However, if there are more points of contact spread over a larger surface area, blockage may be alleviated. Thus, as described herein, a lubricant product (e.g., fiber) comprising a relatively thin aspect ratio (e.g., length to width greater than 1; length greater than width) can linearly distribute stress to help spread it out. Furthermore, certain cross-sectional shapes of fiber lubricants can provide improved stress distribution over other shapes. For example, while a rectangular or other polygonal cross-sectional shape can provide good stress redistribution, a cylindrical cross-sectional shape can provide excellent stress distribution and, therefore, improved lubricity.

[0016] In one embodiment, in this aspect, Figure 1As illustrated in , the lubricant may include fibers 102 having a width-to-length aspect ratio of at least length to width greater than 1. That is, for example, the length of the fibers 102 may be at least greater than the width of the fibers. In some embodiments, the width-to-length aspect ratio may include a ratio within a range from 1:1.1 to 1:15 (e.g., 1:4). In other embodiments, the width-to-length aspect ratio may be greater than 1:15, or less than 1:1.1. As an example, the length-to-width aspect ratio may be determined by the type of fibers 102, the source of the fibers 102, and / or the method of processing the fibers 102.

[0017] In some embodiments, the fibers may include natural biodegradable polymers such as cellulose, starch, lignin, collagen, silk, and / or protein. In other embodiments, the fibers may include (for example, or further include) synthetic biodegradable polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone (PDS), and / or polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). It is expected that one skilled in the art may design a lubricant comprising materials other than those described herein that include properties similar to those provided by the described materials. For example, the fibers include hydrophilic properties such that water (for example, or other suitable liquids) is attracted to the fibers and can be absorbed by the fibers. In addition, for example, the fibers may include reactive groups such as hydroxyl groups disposed on the surface of the fibers. In these examples, fibers providing similar properties may be used in place of or in combination with these fibers. In addition, it should be understood that fiber(s) may be selected based on the intended use. That is, for example, a certain type of biodegradable fiber may be used in a seed planter based on the nature of the seed, the type of equipment used, and the environment. As another example, food-safe fibers may be selected for use in food product manufacturing or distribution systems; and fibers that are safe to use and approved by the appropriate agencies may be used in cosmetic or pharmaceutical manufacturing or distribution.

[0018] exist Figure 1In the embodiment of the present invention, the lubricant may further include a plurality of hydrophobic particles 104 respectively disposed on the surface of the fiber 102. The resulting fiber has a fiber surface that exhibits a double-phobic property. That is, for example, the lubricant fiber 102 can show hydrophilic properties and hydrophobic properties. As an example, the cellulose substrate of the fiber 102 can be hydrophilic, while the hydrophobic particles 104 disposed on the surface are hydrophobic. In this way, a liquid 150 (e.g., water) disposed in the core of the cellulose fiber can be squeezed to the surface under pressure and disposed as a thin layer on the surface of the fiber 102, for example, between and / or around the hydrophobic particles 104. For example, the lubricant can be utilized in a product dispenser, and when the lubricant is subjected to mechanical stress, it can provide lubricity to the product to improve the flow of the product in and from the dispenser.

[0019] In some embodiments, other liquids (e.g., in addition to water) can be used to provide lubrication that can be easily adsorbed from the core of the fiber to the surface, such as ethylene glycol, glycerol, oils, and low melting point solids (e.g., waxes). For example, water substitutes (e.g., ethylene glycol and glycerol) may be useful in humid environments where excessive hydration with water can lead to accumulation of lubricants and / or products. In some embodiments, the liquid disposed in the core of the fiber can be Newtonian or non-Newtonian, which can be determined by the magnitude of the stress required to trigger adsorption of the liquid from the core to the surface. In some embodiments, the liquid can include a priori physically adsorbed low modulus material that can be tuned to be released to the surface of the fiber based on the magnitude of the stress provided. That is, for example, by releasing such a material to the surface to change the surface chemistry and increase lubricity, the lubricity of the fiber can be autonomously self-regulated based on the magnitude of the stress. In this example, the change in surface chemistry can be reversed when the stress is reduced, thereby absorbing the material into the core of the fiber and restoring the surface to an amphiphobic state (e.g., Figure 1 140).

[0020] It should be understood that the terms lubricant, lubrication, and / or lubricity are used to describe properties that include, but are not limited to, minimizing and / or reducing friction for the product being dispensed. That is, between individual product particles, between the product and the container in which it is held or dispensed, and between the product and other components of the dispensing system (e.g., pipes / tubing / lines, valves, dispensing machinery, and / or other components in which blockages, bulges, lumps, aggregations, flow interruptions, or otherwise disturbed flow of the product through the system may occur). Lubrication can be provided by fiber properties, liquids disposed on the surface of the fibers, by the amphiphobic properties of the lubricant, and / or by reducing electrostatic charge buildup (e.g., charge dissipation) in the product or components of the dispensing system through which the product traverses.

[0021] As an illustrative example, Figure 1 Four exemplary stages 100, 120, 140, 160 of one embodiment of the innovation described herein are illustrated. In stage 100, fiber 102 (e.g., cellulose fiber) is in an untreated condition. In this example, between stages 100 and 120, fiber 122 has been treated (R H ), as will be discussed below, to form hydrophobic particles 104 on the surface of the fiber 102. As illustrated at 120, the hydrophobic particles 104 can be arranged at a first distance d1 from each other, and the fiber 102 can have a first width r1. Furthermore, in stage 120, the fiber 102 has not yet been treated with an additional liquid (e.g., water). At stage 140, the fiber has been treated with water 150, such that the water 150 is absorbed into the fiber body 152, as the fiber body can be hydrophilic. Additionally, in this stage 140, the particles 104 can be arranged at a second distance d2 from each other, and the fiber 102 can have a second width r2. As an example, the second distance d2 can be greater than the first distance d1, and the second width r2 can be greater than the first width r1, which may be due to the absorption of the water 150.

[0022] exist Figure 1 In stage 160, the fiber 102 is subjected to a stress (e.g., τ xy ), which causes water 150 to be squeezed from the body 152 of the fiber 102 to the surface of the fiber 102. In this example, the water 150 can be disposed between the hydrophobic particles 104 on the surface of the fiber 102. In addition, as illustrated in this stage 140, the particles 104 can be disposed at a third distance d3 from each other, and the fiber 102 can have a third width r3. As an example, the third distance d3 can be greater than the first distance d1 and less than the second distance d2. In addition, the third width r3 can be greater than the first width r1 and less than the second width r2. In this example, the water 150 is squeezed due to the stress (τ applied to the fiber 102) xy ) has been adsorbed to the surface, thereby essentially squeezing the water from the interior of the fiber 102 to the surface, thereby reducing the fiber width (r) and particle distance (d).

[0023] As an example, a treated fiber including hydrophobic particles disposed on the surface of the fiber can be exposed to water so that the water is absorbed into the treated fiber. In this example, the treated fiber, now having absorbed water, can be used as a lubricant in a product dispenser to improve product flow in the dispenser. That is, a target product (e.g., a seed, a food product, a pharmaceutical, etc.) can be combined with a desired amount of the treated fiber lubricant that has absorbed water and introduced into a product dispenser (e.g., a seed hopper on a planter). For example, the desired amount of lubricant used with the product can depend on the size of the product, the size of the product dispenser, the configuration of the product dispenser, and / or the amount of product in the dispenser.

[0024] As an example, as little as a quarter cup / bushel of lubricant can be combined with the target product in the central seed distributor. For example, non-spherical seeds (for example, corn) where blockage increases may occur can utilize more lubricants, and spherical seeds (for example, soybeans) where less blockage may occur can utilize less lubricants. That is, the dosage of the lubricant can depend on the shape and size of the seed, the desired flow velocity of the seed output and / or the type of the equipment used. In this example, in the distributor, wherein the product is exposed to stress or may show a position of ridge, funnel flow and / or blockage, stress can be applied to the lubricant. Such position can comprise the wall of the distributor, at the bottom of the distributor, at the narrowing point in the distributor, at the sharp corner in the distributor etc.

[0025] In this way, in this example, when stress is applied, the liquid absorbed a priori can seep into the surface between and around the hydrophobic particles, thereby improving the lubricity between the components of the product, improving flow and alleviating the blockage / bulge of the product. In one aspect, the high aspect ratio of length to width can provide a large surface area, particularly in cylindrically shaped fibers, thereby causing the redistribution of otherwise localized mechanical stresses. In this example, in this aspect, the hydrophilic particles are relatively randomly spaced apart on the surface of the fiber. In addition, the adsorbed liquid is dispersed on the surface of the fiber together with the hydrophilic particles to produce a slippery (e.g., almost oily) surface. For example, this provides increased surface lubrication, thereby allowing products to flow relative to each other, to alleviate blockage and bulge, to improve product flow.

[0026] In some embodiments, the hydrophilic particles can include oligomers, eg, polymers with few repeating molecules. Figure 2A 、 Figure 2B 、 Figure 2C and Figure 2D is a composition diagram illustrating one exemplary method for producing oligomers on the surface of a fiber (e.g., cellulose fiber 202). Figure 2AIn FIG, cellulose fibers 202 include hydroxyl groups 204 on their surfaces. In this example, adsorbed water 206 is disposed on the surface of the fibers 202. Alkylsilane 208 can be introduced into the fibers, for example, by using a suitable carrier, as will be described in more detail below. Figure 2B and Figure 2C In the reaction, the hydroxyl groups 204 and the adsorbed water 206 react with the introduced alkylsilane 208 to attach to the surface of the fiber 202, thereby releasing hydrochloric acid 210 when condensed with the adsorbed water 206 in the gas phase.

[0027] exist Figure 2D In the process, silane molecules 212 react with adsorbed water 206 to form oligomers 212, and oligomeric silane molecules 214 react with surface hydroxyl groups of cellulose to attach to fibers 202. In this example, the resulting oligomeric silane molecules 214 can form hydrophobic particles as polymers on the surface of the fibers. In some embodiments, as more adsorbed water is locally removed by silane 212 during this process, the corresponding polymer particles can further grow into three-dimensional polymer particles above the surface. In addition, the absorbed water in the core of the cellulose fibers 202 can be squeezed to the surface, causing the particles to continue to grow in the presence of unreacted alkylsilane 208 on the carrier.

[0028] In this manner, for example, substantially randomly arranged hydrophobic particles can be formed on and attached to the surface of the fibers 202. By way of example, by controlling the amount of available surface water and the amount or concentration of the alkylsilane 208 in the carrier used to introduce it to the fiber surface, the number and size of the resulting hydrophobic particles can be tuned to the desired result. The number and size of the hydrophobic particles can be tuned by using a carrier to adjust the amount of surface-adsorbed water available for reaction with the alkylsilane. In some embodiments, the corresponding hydrophobic particles rise from the surface of the fibers 202 to a height of from 30 nanometers to 130 nanometers.

[0029] In one aspect, a method may be devised for producing a dry lubricant that may be used to improve product flow in a dispenser. Figure 33 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method 300 for producing a lubricant that can be used to improve product flow in a dispenser. Exemplary method 300 begins at 302, where a silane mixture 350 is introduced to a batch of untreated fibers 352. In some embodiments, the silane mixture 350 can be sprayed onto the untreated fibers 352 to lightly saturate the fibers 352. At 304, the saturated fibers can be mixed to provide a more uniform coverage of the silane mixture 350 among the fibers 352, resulting in treated fibers 354. In some embodiments, the silane mixture 350 can be introduced in a vapor phase along with an active or inert carrier (e.g., nitrogen) to result in chemical vapor deposition of the reactants.

[0030] In some embodiments, the spraying and mixing process can optionally be performed multiple times (e.g., two or more times) to provide a more uniform coating of the fibers. In some embodiments, the coated fibers can optionally be allowed to at least partially dry between the respective spraying and mixing procedures. As an example, the drying time can depend on the amount of fibers being treated and the ambient conditions of the treatment (e.g., humidity, atmospheric pressure, temperature, etc.). Generally, the spraying, mixing, and drying process can be performed at normal room temperature, under normal atmospheric conditions, or can be performed at elevated temperatures up to 95° C. under reduced atmospheric pressure.

[0031] In the exemplary method 300, at 306, the treated fibers may be hydrated or impregnated with an appropriate liquid or low modulus component. In some embodiments, this step may be optional, as the treated fibers 354 may be considered a lubricant. For example, in situations where there may be high stresses on the product in the container (e.g., in situations where high flow rates are used, such as when a planter is moving at >7.5 mph), the hydration / liquid impregnation step may not be part of the process (e.g., but may be added later if desired). For example, the fibers may be wetted / impregnated by spraying with an appropriate liquid (e.g., water). In addition, the wetted / impregnated treated fibers may be thoroughly mixed to facilitate homogenization of the hydration / impregnation. For example, an appropriate amount of liquid may be sprayed onto the treated fibers to provide a light covering, and the fibers may be thoroughly mixed, at least until the desired amount of hydration / impregnation is achieved. In one embodiment, the wetted treated fibers may be mixed in a mechanical agitator / mixer to provide the appropriate consistency. Optionally, the hydrated fibers can be at least partially dried, for example, by leaving them in open air (e.g., for 5 to 20 minutes) (which can evaporate some of the bound water / liquid, if any). In this embodiment, the hydration of the treated fibers results in treated fibers as treated wet fibers 356 in which the liquid is absorbed into the bulk of the fibers. Alternatively, the treated fibers 354 can be hydrated by being allowed to absorb water as water vapor (e.g., in a more humid environment), thereby producing treated wet fibers 356.

[0032] That is, for example, as previously mentioned in Figure 1 As illustrated in FIG, at stage 140, the treated wetted fibers include substantially randomly disposed hydrophobic particles with water absorbed in the bulk of the fibers. In some embodiments, the treated wetted fibers can be used as a lubricant for mixing with a product in a product dispenser.

[0033] In one embodiment, the silane mixture can include trichlorooctylsilane mixed with a suitable (e.g., inert, non-polar) carrier fluid (e.g., hexane). As an example, as described above, the surface energy between the non-polar carrier fluid and the water on the fiber surface can be used to control the polymerization / oligomerization of the silane. In this way, for example, attached hydrophobic particles can grow in height as the non-polar carrier fluid evaporates. In this example, control of the interaction of water with the silane can be achieved by displacing capillary water with the non-polar carrier fluid. In addition, the concentration of the silane can be controlled by the hydrophobicity of the non-polar carrier fluid (e.g., causing beading) of small droplets of the silane mixture on the surface of the bound water (e.g., part of the adsorbed water layer).

[0034] As described above, the silane mixture can include a mixture of trichlorooctylsilane and an inert or non-polar carrier (e.g., hexane or a similar fluid). For example, the silane mixture can include a ratio of trichlorooctylsilane to the non-polar carrier of one to ten (1:10). As an example, four milliliters of silane can be mixed with 40 milliliters of n-hexane to produce the silane mixture. As another example, the silane mixture can include a ratio of trichlorooctylsilane to the non-polar carrier ranging from one to five (1:5) to one to fifteen (1:15). Alternative ratios of trichlorooctylsilane to the non-polar carrier can be used depending on the desired resulting hydrophobic particle arrangement (e.g., amount, distance, height, size), the type of fiber used, the type of non-polar carrier used, and the target product for which the lubricant is used.

[0035] Figure 4 4 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of an exemplary method 400 for producing untreated fibers that can be used for dust production treated wet fibers (e.g., 356). In this exemplary method 400, the untreated fibers include cellulose. At 402, bulk fiber raw material 450 (e.g., cellulose-based raw material) can be appropriately sized, for example, into manageable sheets for the remainder of the process. For example, cellulose-based products (e.g., wood, plant fiber, paper, etc.) that include desirable fiber types can be obtained as bulk fiber raw material 450. In this example, bulk cellulose-based products can be broken down into smaller, appropriate sizes. In one example, bulk paper can be torn, cut, or otherwise sized into manageable sheets for the next step (e.g., torn / cut into 2-inch squares of paper). For example, precise size is not required, as long as the sheet is easy to handle for the stirring step. For example, smaller sheets can allow the fibers to absorb water faster and more easily, thereby alleviating the stirring step.

[0036] In the exemplary method 400, at 404, the sized raw material 452 can be soaked in water, at least until the sized sheets are properly (e.g., completely) wetted. In some embodiments, heated water (e.g., as hot as possible) can be used, which promotes the decomposition of fiber bundles in the sized raw material 452. In addition, the sized raw material 452 can be agitated (e.g., mixed) in the water to improve and accelerate the soaking process. At 406, the soaked raw material product 454, the soaked raw material 454, can be stirred into a fine slurry. For example, the stirring should result in few or no large sheets, thereby resulting in a fine slurry of cellulose fibers. As an example, a bladed agitator (e.g., using an electric or pneumatic motor) spinning at about 15,000 RPM or greater can be used to stir the soaked raw material 454 in a suitable container for an appropriate amount of time (e.g., 2 to 10 minutes). It will be appreciated that various processes may utilize different dimensions, speeds, and other processing conditions depending upon the amount of feedstock used and the desired resulting amount or rate or output.

[0037] At 408 in exemplary method 400, excess water in the resulting slurry 456 can be drained. For example, slurry 456 can be placed on a screen to drain the water, can be pressed in a filter press, or otherwise at least substantially removed. At 408, the drained slurry can be further dried. For example, the drained slurry can be subjected to air drying, oven drying, or some other suitable drying process. In this embodiment, the degree of aggressiveness of the drying can be tuned to the desired speed and / or production requirements of the process.

[0038] At 412, the resulting dry fiber raw material can be fluffed. For example, the dry fiber raw material from step 410 can be composed of semi-hard clumps of decomposed fibers. In this example, the clumps of decomposed fibers can be stirred or otherwise continued through a fluffing device to produce a fibrous material with a cotton ball-like consistency. The clumps of decomposed fibers can be carried out in a batch process, or continuously fluffed in a processing line as needed. As an example, longer stirring or fluffing can produce a more consistent product and help to remove any clumps. The resulting product is an untreated fiber raw material 458 that can be used in a processing process (e.g., method 300).

[0039] Figure 5An alternative embodiment of an exemplary process for producing particles on the surface of a fiber is illustrated. This exemplary embodiment illustrates the formation of hydrophobic particles in the absence of pre-oligomerization 510 and in the presence of pre-oligomerization 524. In this example, the corresponding molecules (e.g., silanes) in the first reactive group 502 may be able to form at least one bond with the molecules in the second reactive group disposed on the surface of the fiber 506. In this example, the first reactive group 502 may form a bond with the second reactive group 504, respectively, to form, for example, a group of particles 508 comprising a hydrophobic tail. In this example, there is no pre-oligomerization, and there may also be incomplete coverage of the surface by the first reactive group 502 molecules. In one embodiment, the molecules of the first reactive group 502 may form bonds with more than one 512 of the second reactive group molecules 504, and may be oligomerized after bonding to form a group of particles 512 having a hydrophobic tail.

[0040] In other embodiments, the pre-oligomerized first reactive group 516 can react with the second reactive group 506 to form a hydrophobic particle with a single bond attachment 518 and / or with multiple bond attachment 522. Furthermore, as illustrated, in the pre-oligomerized linkage 524, the resulting surface can have incomplete coverage and / or can be further oligomerized to form larger hydrophobic particles.

[0041] In one aspect, the charged properties of the resulting hydrophobic particles can be tuned relative to the fibers to mitigate charge accumulation or dissipate charge caused by friction or other triboelectric effects. In some embodiments, a lubricant used to promote the flow of a product in a hopper or dispenser can include fibers that acquire a positive charge when subjected to friction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lubricant can include a plurality of particles disposed on the surface of the fibers, wherein the particles acquire a negative charge when subjected to friction. Additionally, the combination of positively charged fibers and negatively charged particles provides a lubricant that can operatively mitigate charges that may accumulate on the surface of a flowing product subjected to friction or on one or more portions of a distribution system apparatus (e.g., a pipe, etc.) by releasing electrostatic charge from the surface of the fibers or attached particles. In this way, the flowing product can be rendered substantially neutral to improve flow and mitigate blockages, lumps, bumps, pooling, or other flow problems by reducing the electrostatic charge generated by the flow of the product. For example, this can help distribute (e.g., singulate or reduce dispersion) certain powdered materials (e.g., cosmetics, pharmaceuticals) and / or other products whose surfaces tend to generate an electrostatic charge under friction (e.g., sugar beets, rapeseed (canola seed). In some embodiments, the opposite arrangement of fibers and particles can also be utilized. That is, for example, the fibers can be negatively charged (e.g., wool, fur, or nylon), while the particles can be positively charged (e.g., silica particles obtained by using SiCl4).

[0042] In some embodiments, the fibers may comprise natural, biodegradable materials, such as cellulose, having a weak positive charge. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the resulting particles may present a hydrocarbon surface; or a fluorinated surface. Additionally, the particles may comprise a diameter-directed charged tail such that the net charge of the particle is zero. In some embodiments, the composition of the particles may be tuned to the target use (e.g., situation, product, equipment, environment, etc.) such that the resulting particles are designed to reduce the amount of electrostatic charge that can accumulate in the target product and can be dissipated. That is, for example, the molecules used to generate the particles on the surface of the fiber may be selected to produce the desired resulting particles. As an example, the "tails" of these particles may affect how they assemble and compact. In some embodiments, when the tails comprise simple hydrocarbons, the molecules may be packed into dense spheres.

[0043] Alternatively, more functional groups may be used, and for example when the tail comprises a dialkyl unit, the structure may have one or more alkyl chains. The resulting particles are less densely packed, which may allow for particles of varying densities (e.g., when more than one chain per group is attached to the surface, the chains are not as densely packed as when more than one chain per group is attached to the surface). Figure 5 ). For example, this results in particles that are "soft," which may not accumulate a large electrostatic charge via friction. In some embodiments, the tail of the molecule of the first reactive group (e.g., 502, 516) can be adjusted to achieve the desired result in order to tune the mechanical or charging properties of the resulting particles (e.g., 508, 512, 518, 522).

[0044] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the dry lubricant described herein that can be utilized. In this example, a dispensing device 600 (e.g., a seed drill) can include a product hopper / dispensing container 602. In operation, the hopper 602 can be filled with a target product 604, such as seeds. In addition, as described herein, a lubricant 606 can be mixed with the product 604 in the hopper. In this manner, for example, the lubricant 606 can improve the flow of the product 604 within the hopper 602 to alleviate blockages and bulges. In addition, the exemplary dispensing device 600 can include a metering unit 610 for metering the product 604, various tubes 612, 614, and a depositing device 616. In this embodiment, the lubricant can further improve the flow of the product 604 through the metering device 608, the tubes 612, 614, and the depositing device 616.

[0045] As used herein, the word "exemplary" means serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described as "exemplary" in this sense is not necessarily to be construed as advantageous over other aspects or designs. On the contrary, the use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner. As used in this application, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or," not an exclusive "or." That is, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context, "X employs A or B" is intended to mean any natural inclusive arrangement. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs A or B" is satisfied under any of the aforementioned instances. In addition, at least one of A and B and / or the like generally means A or B or both A and B. In addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this application and the appended claims generally can be interpreted to mean "one or more," unless otherwise specified or clear from the context to refer to the singular form.

[0046] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

[0047] In addition, although the present disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more embodiments, equivalent changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art based on reading and understanding this specification and the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure includes all such modifications and changes and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In particular, with respect to the various functions performed by the components (e.g., elements, resources, etc.) described above, unless otherwise indicated, the terms used to describe such components are intended to correspond to any component that performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., functionally equivalent) even if it is not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure that performs the function in the exemplary embodiments illustrated in this article of the present disclosure. In addition, although a particular feature of the present disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such a feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, as may be desirable and advantageous for any given or specific application. In addition, with respect to the terms "comprising," "having," "including," "with," or variations thereof used in the detailed description or claims, such terms are intended to be included in a manner similar to the term "comprising."

[0048] Embodiments have been described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatus may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

Claims

1. A lubricant for use in a hopper feed system, comprising: Hydrophilic fibers (102) having an aspect ratio of width to length of at least 1 and a number greater than 1; and a plurality of hydrophobic particles (104), the plurality of hydrophobic particles being respectively arranged on the surface of the fiber, thereby producing a fiber surface exhibiting an amphiphobic property; The fibers are operable to absorb liquid (150) and release the absorbed liquid to the surface of the fibers under mechanical stress, thereby causing the liquid to be disposed on the surface of the fibers, thereby operable to provide lubrication to the product (604) in the hopper (602) to improve the flow characteristics and anti-clogging characteristics of the product in the hopper.

2. The lubricant of claim 1, wherein the fibers comprise a biodegradable polymer, the biodegradable polymer comprising one or more of the following: cellulose (202), starch, lignin, collagen, silk, protein, polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone (PDS), and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB).

3. The lubricant of claim 1, the fibers comprising one or more of: carbonyl groups and hydroxyl groups (204) disposed on the surface.

4. The lubricant of claim 3, comprising adsorbed water disposed on the hydroxyl groups.

5. The lubricant of claim 1, each particle rising from the surface of the fiber to a height of from 30 nanometers to 130 nanometers.

6. The lubricant of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise one or more of silane (212), amide, ester, ether, and acyl linkages.

7. The lubricant according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-6, the particles comprising silane (212), and the silane is polymerized to the surface of the fiber using adsorbed water disposed on the surface of the fiber.

8. The lubricant according to any one of claims 1-3 and 5-6, the particles comprising silane (212), and the silane is deposited on the surface of the fiber using an inert carrier comprising one or more of hexane and nitrogen gas.

9. The lubricant of claim 1, said mechanical stress comprising pressure from said product operatively mixed with said lubricant to cause said fibers to release absorbed water to the surface of said hydrophobic particles.

10. A method of manufacturing a lubricant for use in a hopper feed system, comprising: producing a liquid-impregnated fiber (102) having an aspect ratio of width to length of at least 1:2 and having an adsorbed liquid (150) disposed on a surface of the fiber; combining a silane mixture (350) with the liquid-impregnated fibers, the silane mixture including an inert carrier, thereby causing the silane to polymerize to the surface of the fibers by combining with the absorbed liquid; and The inert carrier is allowed to dry off the fibers, thereby causing the fibers to include hydrophobic particles (104) disposed on the surface of the fibers, thereby producing amphiphobic fibers exhibiting hydrophobic surface properties and hydrophilic interior properties.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising: A liquid is impregnated into the amphiphobic fibers such that the liquid is absorbed into the fibers.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the silane mixture is combined with the liquid-impregnated fiber, The silane mixture includes hexane or nitrogen.

13. The method of claim 10, said combining of said silane mixture and said liquid-impregnated fibers comprising: The liquid-impregnated fibers are atomized with the silane mixture, and the liquid-impregnated fibers are mechanically mixed together to distribute the silane mixture on the liquid-impregnated fibers.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the producing of the liquid-impregnated fibers comprises one or more of the following: Mechanically separating fiber-based raw products in water; Drying to remove a substantial portion of the water from the fibers; and fluffing the dried fibers to produce bulky fibers; in, The liquid-impregnated fiber includes a biodegradable polymer including hydroxyl groups disposed on the surface, and the adsorbed liquid is disposed on the hydroxyl groups.

15. The method of claim 10, drying the inert carrier off the fibers resulting in the fibers comprising hydrophobic particles disposed on the surface of the fibers, the hydrophobic particles rising from the surface of the fibers to a height of from 30 nanometers to 130 nanometers.

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