Ionic Liquid Grease Composition for Polar Oils and Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubricant compositions using ionic liquids with CFx-containing groups face issues of non-biodegradability, high production complexity, and limited use with polar basic oils, while ionic liquids with bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anions have low thermal stability and are limited to non-polar oils.
Innovation Solution
A lubricating grease composition comprising 20-96.5% base oil, primarily ester and/or polyglycol with unsubstituted ethylene units, 0.5-80% bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ionic liquid, and 3-35% thickener, which enhances tribological properties, electrical conductivity, and temperature stability up to 180°C without using bta-containing ionic liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ionic liquids with CFx-containing groups (such as bta anions) are used to improve thermal resistance and electrical conductivity, then tribological properties and thermal stability are enhanced, but the compounds become non-biodegradable and persistent in the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameter of the ionic liquid anion from CFx-containing groups (bta) to groups without carbon-fluorine bonds (fsi), thereby altering the molecular stability and environmental persistence while maintaining lubricant performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful persistence and non-biodegradability of CFx-containing ionic liquids into a benefit by using fsi-based ionic liquids that are biodegradable yet still provide adequate thermal resistance when combined with polar basic oils
2Reliability
If two different ionic liquids are used in the lubricant composition, then tribological properties can be optimized, but the production process complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple ionic liquids into a single fsi-based ionic liquid formulation, combining the tribological enhancement and thermal stability functions that were previously achieved through multiple components into one simplified system
Solution Approach 2:
The fsi-based ionic liquid serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides tribological enhancement, maintains thermal resistance through interaction with polar basic oils, and ensures environmental compatibility, replacing the need for multiple specialized additives
3Stability of the object's composition
If non-polar basic oils are used as the base oil, then compatibility with certain ionic liquids is improved, but the proportion of polar components is limited to less than 50 wt%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the base oil polarity parameter by using polar basic oils with at least 50 wt% polar components, fundamentally altering the lubricant composition to enable higher ionic liquid content and improved thermal resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite lubricant system combining polar basic oils with fsi-based ionic liquids, where the polar nature of both components synergistically enhances thermal resistance and allows for optimized tribological performance
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricating grease composition, including 20 to 96.5 wt %, relative to a total weight of the lubricating grease composition, of a base oil, the base oil containing a basic oil A in a proportion of at least 50 wt %, relative to a total weight of the base oil, wherein the basic oil A is an ester and/or a polyglycol containing unsubstituted ethylene units as a carbon group in a repeating unit. The lubricating grease composition further includes 0.5 to 80 wt %, relative to the total weight of the lubricating grease composition, of an ionic liquid, the anion of the ionic liquid being bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide and 3 to 35 wt %, relative to the total weight of the lubricating grease composition, of a thickener selected from urea, lithium simple soaps, metal complex soaps of elements of the first and second main group of the periodic table, lithium complex soaps, and mixtures thereof.