Ionic Liquids for High-Duty Lubricants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-performance lubricants face challenges in achieving low viscosity, high thermal stability, low hygroscopicity, and large liquid range, which are crucial for effective lubrication under high temperature conditions without decomposition or corrosion.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel ionic liquids comprising polyethercarboxylate groups as anions and alkyl ammonium groups as cations, which are liquid at room temperature, exhibit excellent thermal stability, reduced viscosity, and low hygroscopicity, enabling their use in high-duty lubricants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional ionic liquids are used to achieve high thermal stability, then thermal stability is improved, but viscosity increases and flowability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ionic liquid by using polyethercarboxylate anions with specific alkoxylation degrees (n+m from 2 to 14) and controlling the carbon chain lengths of cations (R2 from 6 to 24 carbons). This parameter optimization achieves a balance where thermal stability is maintained while viscosity is reduced compared to conventional ionic liquids with shorter carbon chains or different anion structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite ionic liquid structures combining polyethercarboxylate anions (with multiple ether oxygen units) and alkyl ammonium cations (with long carbon chains). This composite approach allows the molecule to exhibit both high thermal stability from the polyethercarboxylate framework and reduced viscosity from the long alkyl chains, resolving the contradiction between stability and flowability.
2Force
If ionic liquids are designed to achieve low viscosity for good flowability, then flowability is improved, but thermal stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters including the alkoxylation degree (n+m from 2 to 14), the number of ether oxygen units (n from 2 to 8), and cation carbon chain length (R2 from 6 to 24 carbons). These parameter changes enable the ionic liquid to maintain low viscosity through appropriate chain lengths while achieving high thermal stability through the polyethercarboxylate structure with sufficient ether oxygen content.
3Stability of the object's composition
If ionic liquids are used to achieve high thermal stability to extend lubricant lifetime, then thermal stability is improved, but hygroscopicity increases causing corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters by using polyethercarboxylate anions with specific alkoxylation degrees and controlling cation structure. This structural optimization reduces the polarity and water affinity of the ionic liquid, thereby reducing hygroscopicity and corrosion tendency while maintaining high thermal stability through the robust polyethercarboxylate framework.
4Temperature
If conventional ionic liquids are used to achieve large liquid range, then liquid range is improved, but evaporation loss increases at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters including cation carbon chain length (R2 from 6 to 24 carbons), anion alkoxylation degree (n+m from 2 to 14), and ether oxygen content (n from 2 to 8). These parameter changes increase the molecular weight and reduce vapor pressure of the ionic liquid, thereby reducing evaporation loss at high temperatures while maintaining a large liquid range from glass transition to decomposition temperature.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to novel ionic liquids comprising polyethercarboxylate groups as anions, alkyl ammonium groups as cations, a process of preparation of said ionic liquids and its use in high duty lubricant.