Lubricant compositions and methods

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure A lubricant composition is disclosed comprising a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces. The superabsorbent polymer absorbs from about 25 to greater than 100 times its weight in water and may comprise a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile or acrylamide, including co-polymers thereof or starch graft co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof. In the composition, the material for decreasing friction comprises a petroleum lubricant containing an additive, water containing an additive, synthetic lubricant, grease, solid lubricant or metal working lubricant, wherein the synthetic lubricant, grease, solid lubricant or metal working lubricant optionally contain an additive. A method of lubricating a surface is also disclaosed comprising coating said surface with the lubricating composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, wherein the material for decreasing friction comprises a petroleum lubricant, water, synthetic lubricant, grease, solid lubricant or metal working lubricant, and optionally an additive.

Claims 
     
         1.     A method of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition having a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces. 
     
     
         2.            The method of  claim 1  of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition consisting  essentially of a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, where said superabsorbent polymer absorbs greater than about 100 times its weight in water and is a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein said material for decreasing friction is a petroleum oil  lubricant or grease thereof, and wherein said material for decreasing friction optionally contains a lubricant additive, wherein said lubricant additive is an antioxidant, rust inhibitor, antiwear compound, extreme pressure additive, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, viscosity-index improver, or foam inhibitor. 
     
     
         3.  The method of claim12 of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition consisting essentially of a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, where said superabsorbent polymer absorbs greater than about 100 times its weight in water and is a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein said material for decreasing friction is a solid lubricant, wherein said solid lubricant is an inorganic compound, carbon, or metal that provides barrier-layer lubrication, and wherein said material for decreasing friction optionally contains a lubricant additive, wherein said lubricant additive is an antioxidant, rust inhibitor, antiwear compound, extreme pressure additive, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, viscosity-index improver, or foam inhibitor. 
         
     
     
         4.  The method of  claim 3  wherein said solid lubricant is graphite, molybdenum disulfide, cobalt  chloride, antimony oxide, niobium selenide, tungsten disulfide, mica, boron nitride, silver sulfate, cadmium chloride, cadmium iodide, borax, basic white lead, lead carbonate, lead iodide, asbestos, talc, zinc oxide, carbon, babbitt, bronze, brass,    aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, thorium, copper, silver, gold, mercury, lead, tin,      indium, or the Group VIII noble metals or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5.  The method of  claim 1  of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition consisting essentially of a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, where said superabsorbent polymer absorbs greater than about 100 times its weight in water and is a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein said material for decreasing friction is a solid organic lubricant, and wherein said material for decreasing friction optionally contains a lubricant additive, wherein said lubricant additive is an antioxidant, rust inhibitor, antiwear compound, extreme pressure additive, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, viscosity-index improver, or foam inhibitor. 
     
     
         6.   The method of  claim 5  wherein said solid organic lubricant is a fluoroalkylene homopolymer or copolymer, a lower alkylene polyolefin homopolymer or co-polymer, a paraffinic hydrocarbon, wax, phenanthrene, copper phthalocyanine, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7.  The method of  claim 1  of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition consisting essentially of a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, where said superabsorbent polymer absorbs greater than about 100 times its weight in water and is a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein said material for decreasing friction is water optionally containing a lubricant additive, wherein said lubricant additive is an antioxidant, rust inhibitor, antiwear compound, extreme pressure additive, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, viscosity-index improver, or foam inhibitor. 
     
     
         8.  The method of  claim 7  wherein said material for decreasing friction is an oil, or greases thereof, and water. 
     
     
         9.  The method of  claim 7  wherein said material for decreasing friction is a solid lubricant and water. 
         
         
     
     
         10.   The method of  claim 9  wherein said solid lubricant is graphite, molybdenum disulfide, cobalt chloride, antimony oxide, niobium selenide, tungsten disulfide, mica, boron nitride, silver sulfate, cadmium chloride, cadmium iodide, borax, basic white lead, lead carbonate, lead iodide, asbestos, talc, zinc oxide, carbon, babbit, bronze, brass, aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, thorium, copper, silver, gold, mercury, lead, tin, indium, the Group VIII noble metals, a fluoroalkylene homopolymer or copolymer, a lower alkylene polyolefin homopolymer or co-polymer, a paraffinic hydrocarbon, wax, phenanthrene, copper phthalocyanine, or mixtures thereof. 
         
         
     
     
         11.  The method of  claim 1  of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition consisting essentially of a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, where said superabsorbent polymer absorbs greater than about 100 times its weight in water and is a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein said material for decreasing friction is a phosphate, and wherein said material for decreasing friction optionally contains a lubricant additive, wherein said lubricant additive is an antioxidant, rust inhibitor, antiwear compound, extreme pressure additive, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, viscosity-index improver, or foam inhibitor. 
         
         
     
     
         12.   The method of  claim 10  wherein said material for decreasing friction is zinc phosphate, iron phosphate or manganese phosphate, or mixtures thereof. 
         
         
     
     
         13.   The method of  claim 1  of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition consisting essentially of a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, where said superabsorbent polymer absorbs greater than about 100 times its weight in water and is a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein said material for decreasing friction is a fatty oil, fatty acid or wax, and wherein said material for decreasing friction optionally contains a lubricant additive, wherein said lubricant additive is an antioxidant, rust inhibitor, antiwear compound, extreme pressure additive, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, viscosity-index improver, or foam inhibitor. 
         
         
     
     
         14.  The method of  claim 1  of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition consisting essentially of a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, where said superabsorbent polymer absorbs greater than about 100 times its weight in water and is a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein said material for decreasing friction is a synthetic oil lubricant, or grease thereof, and wherein said material for decreasing friction optionally contains a lubricant additive, wherein said lubricant additive is an antioxidant, rust inhibitor, antiwear compound, extreme pressure additive, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, viscosity-index improver, or foam inhibitor. 
     
     
       
           15.   The method of  claim 1  of lubricating a first surface that frictionally engages a second surface by coating said first surface with a lubricating composition consisting essentially of a superabsorbent polymer combined with a material for decreasing friction between moving surfaces, where said superabsorbent polymer absorbs greater than about 100 times its weight in water and is a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein said material for decreasing friction is a soap, and wherein said material for decreasing friction optionally contains a lubricant additive, wherein said lubricant additive is an antioxidant, rust inhibitor, antiwear compound, extreme pressure additive, detergent, dispersant, pour point depressant, viscosity-index improver, or foam inhibitor.   15.