High-Solids Lithium Hydroxide Dispersion for Grease Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anhydrous lithium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide monohydrate dispersions with low solids content are inefficient due to large carrier volumes, making transportation, storage, and dispensing problematic, and are less environmentally friendly and more expensive.
Innovation Solution
A stable, high solids dispersion of LiOH and/or LiOH·H2O particulates in an organic medium with a surfactant, where the particulates are milled and dehydrated to achieve a concentration greater than 10% by weight, allowing for the creation of a grease composition by reacting with carboxylic acids and oils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If low solids content dispersion is used, then LiOH and/or LiOH·H2O can be dispersed in organic medium, but the carrier medium volume becomes large making transportation, storage, and dispensing problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the dispersion from low solids content (typical up to 10 wt %) to high solids content (greater than 10 wt %, preferably 15-30 wt %). This is achieved by optimizing the milling process parameters and using appropriate surfactants that enable stable dispersion at higher concentrations, thereby reducing the carrier medium volume while maintaining LiOH particulate stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces surfactants as intermediary substances that facilitate the formation and stabilization of high solids content dispersions. The surfactants act as mediators between the LiOH particulates and the organic medium, enabling stable dispersion at concentrations greater than 10 wt % without aggregation or precipitation, thus reducing the required carrier medium volume
2Quantity of substance
If low solids content dispersion is used, then LiOH can be dispersed, but the dispersion becomes less environmentally friendly and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the solids content parameter to greater than 10 wt % which reduces the amount of carrier medium required per unit of LiOH. This parameter change directly reduces material costs and environmental impact by minimizing the volume of oil-based carrier medium that needs to be processed, transported, and disposed of
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes excess carrier medium from the dispersion system by concentrating the LiOH particulates into a high solids content formulation. This extraction of unnecessary carrier medium reduces the overall volume, lowering both environmental impact and cost while maintaining the functional properties of the dispersion
3Volume of moving object
If high solids content dispersion is produced, then carrier medium volume is reduced, but the dispersion stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs surfactants as intermediary substances that stabilize the high solids content dispersion by reducing interfacial tension between the LiOH particulates and the organic medium. The surfactants prevent aggregation and precipitation at concentrations greater than 10 wt %, maintaining dispersion stability while minimizing carrier medium volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the LiOH material into fine particulates through controlled milling, creating a dispersed structure that maintains stability at high solids content. The segmentation of particles prevents aggregation and allows for stable dispersion in reduced carrier medium volume, achieving both volume reduction and stability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process results in a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective method for producing grease with improved storage and dispensing characteristics by increasing the solids content and reducing the volume of the carrier medium.
Implementation Method 1
the organic medium comprising at least one oil and at least one surfactant
Implementation Method 2
milling the slurry to form a dispersion comprising LiOH·H2O particulates dispersed in the organic medium
Implementation Method 3
dehydrating the dispersion to convert the LiOH·H2O particulates to LiOH particulates
Implementation Method 4
reacting the LiOH and/or LiOH·H2O particulates with the carboxylic acid and/or ester thereof sufficiently to thicken the oil of lubricating viscosity to a grease consistency
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology relates to a dispersion comprising LiOH and/or LiOH.H2O particulates dispersed in an organic medium comprising at least one oil and at least one surfactant, the concentration of LiOH and/or LiOH.H2O particulates in the dispersion being greater than 10% by weight, the LiOH and/or LiOH.H2O particulates having a mean particle size in the range up to about 10 microns wherein at least about 99% by weight of the LiOH particulates have a particle size in the range up to about 20 microns. A process for making the dispersion is disclosed. Grease compositions made using the dispersion are disclosed.