Sterically Hindered Amines in Electric Vehicle Lubricants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lubricating compositions for electric or hybrid vehicle propulsion systems face challenges with corrosion caused by amine and sulfur anti-wear additives, which can damage sensitive components like stator and rotor windings, sensors, and bearings, and also pose electrical conductivity risks.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sterically hindered amines or phenolic compounds as anti-corrosion additives in lubricating compositions, specifically aromatic amines or alkylphenols, to mitigate corrosion effects while maintaining anti-wear performance, thereby enhancing the lubricant's electrical insulation properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If amine and sulfur anti-wear additives are used in lubricating compositions, then anti-wear performance is improved, but corrosion of sensitive components worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sterically hindered amine or phenolic compounds as intermediary substances that mediate between the anti-wear additives and sensitive components. These compounds act as corrosion inhibitors that protect copper-based bearings and other sensitive parts from corrosion caused by amine and sulfur anti-wear additives, while allowing the anti-wear additives to maintain their protective function on mechanical surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the lubricating composition by incorporating specific sterically hindered amine or phenolic compounds. These compounds have specific molecular structures and chemical properties that enable them to inhibit corrosion without interfering with the anti-wear mechanism, thus modifying the overall chemical behavior of the lubricant to be less corrosive while maintaining anti-wear performance.
2Reliability
If conventional anti-wear additives are used, then wear protection is improved, but electrical conductivity increases causing current leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the electrical parameter of the lubricating composition by using sterically hindered amine or phenolic compounds that maintain higher electrical resistivity. These compounds change the overall electrical conductivity parameter of the lubricant, ensuring it remains insulating enough to prevent current leakage in electric motors while still providing adequate wear protection through the anti-wear additives.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
. The invention relates to the use of at least one compound, which has at least one sterically hindered amine or phenolic function, as an anti-corrosion additive in a lubricant composition for a propulsion system of an electric or hybrid vehicle, said lubricant composition comprising one or more amino and/or sulfur anti-wear additives. The invention also relates to the use of a lubricant composition comprising one or more compounds, which has at least one sterically hindered amine or phenolic function, as one or more anti-corrosion additives, further comprising one or more amino and/or sulfur anti-wear additives, for lubricating a propulsion system of an electric or hybrid vehicle, in particular for lubricating the electric motor and the power electronics of an electric or hybrid vehicle.