Low-Viscosity Engine Oil Composition with Calcium Borate Friction Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lubricating oils with highly evaporative base oils to reduce viscosity for improved fuel efficiency face challenges in maintaining low friction characteristics, leading to increased vibration and deteriorated drive comfort due to increased inter-metal contact.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a calcium borate-containing metallic detergent, such as calcium borate salicylate, along with other additives like a viscosity index improver and molybdenum-based friction modifier, to maintain low friction characteristics even with low-viscosity base oils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a highly evaporative base oil is used to make the viscosity low, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the friction characteristic increases due to increased inter-metal contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the lubricating oil by incorporating specific additives (calcium borate-containing metallic detergent, molybdenum-based friction modifier, viscosity index improver) to modify the friction characteristics while maintaining low viscosity. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting the chemical parameters rather than changing the base oil viscosity itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite lubricating oil formulation by combining a highly evaporative base oil with multiple functional additives. The composite material approach allows the base oil to provide low viscosity for fuel efficiency while the additive package provides friction reduction through mechanisms like boundary lubrication and film formation.
2Loss of energy
If the viscosity of lubricating oil is made low to reduce viscosity resistance, then fuel-saving performance is improved, but friction characteristic cannot be kept low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent independently optimizes viscosity parameters and friction characteristics by using different functional components. The base oil and viscosity index improver control viscosity resistance, while the calcium borate-containing metallic detergent and molybdenum-based friction modifier control friction characteristics, allowing both parameters to be optimized simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the lubricating oil into functional segments: base oil for viscosity control, viscosity index improver for temperature stability, calcium borate-containing metallic detergent for friction reduction, and molybdenum-based friction modifier for boundary lubrication. Each segment addresses specific requirements independently.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a highly evaporative base oil is used to make viscosity low, then fuel efficiency improves, but vibration increases and drive comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The calcium borate-containing metallic detergent and molybdenum-based friction modifier act as intermediary substances that form protective films between metal surfaces. These intermediary layers reduce direct metal-to-metal contact, thereby reducing vibration and improving drive comfort while allowing the use of low-viscosity base oil for fuel efficiency.
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 composition effectively reduces friction, enhancing fuel efficiency and drive comfort by stabilizing the friction characteristics of lubricating oils using calcium borate-containing metallic detergents and other additives.
Implementation Method 1
addition of a calcium borate-containing metallic detergent makes it possible to keep low the friction characteristic of a lubricating oil composition
Implementation Method 2
further having (E) a molybdenum-based friction modifier in an amount of from 100 mass ppm or more and 1000 mass ppm or less in terms of molybdenum
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricating oil composition for an internal combustion engine includes: (A) a lubricating base oil including at least one mineral oil-based base oil and having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of from 2.0 mm2/s or more and 4.3 mm2/s or less, and (B) a calcium borate-containing metallic detergent in an mount of 500 mass ppm or more and less than 1500 mass ppm in terms of calcium, based on a total amount of the composition. The composition has an evaporation loss by NOACK method (250° C., 1 h) of from 10 mass % or more and 40 mass % or less, and the composition has a viscosity index of from 140 or more and 350 or less. The lubricating oil composition is provided, wherein even in the case of using a highly evaporative base oil to make the viscosity low, the friction characteristic of the lubricating oil composition can be kept low.