Application help needed for new lubricant type
Application help needed for new lubricant type
(OP)
Hello All,
Normally I post in the polymers / plastics areas and I am a chemist by training. Recently we discovered a very effective lubricant by accident. We have done testing of it compared to Royal Purple, a leading lubricant, and our new lubricant is at least as good. The testing was done on a Falex Film Strength test machine and repeated several times.
The new lubricant is not a modification of an existing base stock, it is a totally novel chemistry not on the market presently. My problem is that I am not a lubricants expert so I would like advice on what other testing I would have to do to convince an expert of the performance of the new lubricant. Furthermore, I am hoping that an expert here can look at the attributes of the stuff and see an application where those attributes would give the material a place in the market. Here are some of the properties:
1. It's a pure chemical i.e. 100% synthetic so not cheap
2. It is non-volatile
3. Colorless
4. Thermally stable to 250C by TGA in air
5. Polar (soluble in solvents and water, immiscible with hydrocarbon oil)
It seems to me that because of the relatively high production cost we may need to find an application where the unusual water solublity is a plus. Any thoughts??
Normally I post in the polymers / plastics areas and I am a chemist by training. Recently we discovered a very effective lubricant by accident. We have done testing of it compared to Royal Purple, a leading lubricant, and our new lubricant is at least as good. The testing was done on a Falex Film Strength test machine and repeated several times.
The new lubricant is not a modification of an existing base stock, it is a totally novel chemistry not on the market presently. My problem is that I am not a lubricants expert so I would like advice on what other testing I would have to do to convince an expert of the performance of the new lubricant. Furthermore, I am hoping that an expert here can look at the attributes of the stuff and see an application where those attributes would give the material a place in the market. Here are some of the properties:
1. It's a pure chemical i.e. 100% synthetic so not cheap
2. It is non-volatile
3. Colorless
4. Thermally stable to 250C by TGA in air
5. Polar (soluble in solvents and water, immiscible with hydrocarbon oil)
It seems to me that because of the relatively high production cost we may need to find an application where the unusual water solublity is a plus. Any thoughts??
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RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
Additives to water reticulation systems such as automotive cooling systems in order to lubricate the pumps.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
I am grateful for all ideas. I hope we can spot a so-called "killer-app" for this new material. I think if we get it tested it will prove to be very safe, i.e. probably safe to eat. I wonder if that would open up new application fields. I imagine there must be some kinds of machine where you want to hose it down with water every day and wash away all dirt and lubricant for hygenic reasons then reapply it for the next shift.
Chris DeArmitt
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
There might be an opportunity for a food-grade EP agent, but normally you don't want the lubricant washing off the machinery since food products are mostly water-based. NSF handles registrations for food grade lubricant ingredients. If it's new chemistry you have little time left to get it REACH preregistered or you will have to prove up front that it is safe to sell significant quantities in EU.
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
REACH preregistration is for chemicals presently EINECS listed and used in the EU at over 1 ton per annum. This new additive does not qualify. It would be registered later if demand justified it. Unlike 99.9% of chemicals, this is a totally new substance and cannot be preregistered.
Chris DeArmitt
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
Do you mean anti-wear or extreme pressure properties? These can be imparted from <1% components, so reassure yourself that it is the bulk chemical that is active and not an impurity or minor component.
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
The top performing of our chemicals had a film strength so high you could add more than the nominal maximum weight load and the lubricant film layer was retained. We got dramatically less wear with additive there as well but we have not run any long term tests yet.
Chris DeArmitt
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
Engine oils do not require EP properties, and if your product is not oil soluble anyway then the RP product may not be a valid benchmark. There are already a number of oil soluble EP additives that can beat the Falex test. Patprimmer's suggestion to focus on soluble cutting fluids is on target.
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
Chris DeArmitt
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
some applications require a product to be nontoxic or biodegradable, this might open another window of opportunity. nontoxic lubricants are for example used in the foodprocessing industry where incidental contact of lubricants cannot always be avoided.
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
It may be too expensive for these types of applications but you may find one that fits.
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
Jell caps might be an application for release from moulds or from filling or printing machines.
I think Pfizer are the main player.
A mould release that dos not interfere with painting, plating or adhesion might be of interest if it can do those.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
Well, just for you, I tasted some and it has no taste (as expected based on what the chemical composition is). I am 99% sure it would be safe if tested and we are going to do that testing quite soon. We'll look to see if it is lubricious when diluted in water.
Cheers,
Chris
Chris DeArmitt
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
Probably not a lot, but you don't always need to exploit all good properties to find an application. My question is based on the possibility that it might still lubricate well when heavily diluted and therefore at a greatly reduced cost.
The ability to easily wash off in water was the interesting property I as considering.
Mould release is traditionally stearate based. I have no idea what the extreme pressure properties of stearates are. More difficult to release moulds often require a silicon based release, but these tend to interfere with paint ability and electrical poperties.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Application help needed for new lubricant type
You make an excellent point. When I worked at BASF customers had problems with stearate mold release because it volatilises in the mold and blocks the vents so you have to stop molding to clean them regularly. A non-volatile, temperature stable mold release is just the ticket. We will run some trials to see how it works.
Chris DeArmitt