Additives Package for Magnetorheological Fluid Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current magnetorheological (MR) fluids face challenges in extended durability testing, particularly due to thickening issues that arise from antioxidant depletion, leading to increased off-state damping forces and potential failure beyond standard testing limits, necessitating the development of a formulation with improved oxidative stability and durability.

Innovation Solution

A novel additives package comprising organomolybdenum dithiocarbamate, ashless dithiocarbamate, triazole compounds, and optionally an aminic antioxidant like alkylated diphenylamine is introduced to enhance the oxidative stability of MR fluids, preventing fluid thickening and ensuring extended durability performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard antioxidant additives are used in MR fluids, then the fluids pass standard durability tests, but the fluids exhibit thickening and performance deterioration at the end of testing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedurability test passageVSAvoidfluid thickening
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the antioxidant package by selecting specific compounds (diphenylamine, tolutriazole, organomolybdenum dithiocarbamate) and optimizing their concentrations (0.01-0.1% diphenylamine, 0.1-0.5% tolutriazole, 0.1-0.3% organomolybdenum dithiocarbamate) to achieve extended durability performance without thickening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite antioxidant package combining multiple different chemical compounds (amine antioxidant, triazole compound, and organomolybdenum dithiocarbamate) that work synergistically to provide both standard and extended durability protection while preventing fluid thickening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If MR fluids are formulated for extended temperature ranges and higher forces, then the fluids meet Gen2 and Gen3 performance requirements, but the fluids require 25-100% higher on-state forces and decreased off-state forces that compromise durability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature range and force requirementsVSAvoiddurability and settling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the antioxidant concentration parameters and chemical composition to match the increased stress conditions of Gen2 and Gen3 fluids, allowing these high-performance formulations to maintain stability under extended testing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If trial-and-error method is used to develop additive packages, then adequate durability performance is achieved, but the development process is expensive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedurability performanceVSAvoiddevelopment time and resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analytical testing on unused and post-durability MR fluids to identify the critical role of antioxidants before extended durability testing, allowing the optimized additive package to be developed with greater confidence and fewer iterations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 new additives package significantly improves the oxidative stability of MR fluids, delaying the onset of thickening and maintaining acceptable off-state damping forces, enabling them to pass extended durability tests and meet future performance standards.

Implementation Method 1

Special additives are also used to reduce oxidation of the base fluid and iron particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are substances that exhibit an ability to change their flow characteristics by several orders of magnitude and in times on the order of milliseconds under the influence of an applied magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetorheological effect: Magnetorheological Fluid

Implementation Method 3

The iron particles are kept suspended in the liquid by the action of a thixotrope or anti-settling agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThixotropy: Thixotropy

Data Source

PatentEP1811529B1Additives package and magnetorheological fluid formulations for extended durability
Publication Date: 2010.06.02 DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP1811529B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1811529B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1811529B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An additives package for use in an MR fluid formulation is provided, as well as an MR fluid formulation containing the additives package. In one embodiment, the additives package comprises an organomolybdenum dithiocarbamate, an ashless dithiocarbamate, and a triazole compound, such as a tolutriazole compound. In another embodiment, the additives package may further include an aminic antioxidant, such as an alkylated diphenylamine. In another embodiment, the additives package is free of an organomolybdate ester. In another embodiment, the additives package consists of the organomolybdenum dithiocarbamate, the ashless dithiocarbamate, the triazole compound, and optionally the aminic antioxidant. In addition to the additives package, the magnetorheological fluid formulation comprises magnetizable particles, a carrier fluid, and a thickening agent.