Nanoparticulate based lubricants

Abstract

A method of making a nanoparticulate based lubricant is disclosed. The method includes providing solid lubricant material with particles having a size less than or equal to about 500 nanometers, and treating the particles to create composite nanoparticles. The composite nanoparticles includes the solid lubricant material and at least a second material.

1 . A method of making a nanoparticulate based lubricant comprising;
 providing solid lubricant material with particles having a size less than or equal to about 500 nanometers; and   treating the particles to create composite nanoparticles, wherein the composite nanoparticles includes the solid lubricant material and at least a second material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing includes reducing the size of the particles to less than or equal to 500 nanometers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing includes reducing the size of the particles to a range between about 50-200 nanometers. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite nanoparticles include a central core and an outer shell wherein, the central core is substantially made of one or more materials and the outer shell is substantially made of the second material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second material includes one of a chemical and a reaction product of the chemical. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the chemical is selected from a group consisting of zinc dialkyl dithio phosphate (ZDDP), sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium diphosphate, 2-ethylhexyl molybdenum dithiophosphate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the outer shell substantially encapsulates the central core. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further including a third material disposed within cavities in the central core. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the third material includes one of a chemical and a reaction product of the chemical. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of treating includes chemically reacting the particles with a chemical. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solid lubricant material is selected from a group consisting of molybdenum disulphide, tungsten disulphide, niobium diselinide, gold, silver, lead, tin, enhanced pressure chemicals, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further including mixing the composite nanoparticles with a base oil, wherein the base oil is selected from a group consisting of an organic oil, a hydrocarbon based oil, a synthetic liquid, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including mixing the composite nanoparticles with one or more lubricant additives. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing includes reducing the size of the solid lubricant material to a powder having a first predetermined size greater than about 500 nanometers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of providing further includes reducing the powder from the first predetermined size to particles having the size less than or equal to approximately 500 nanometers. 
     
     
         16 . A nanoparticle for lubricant applications comprising;
 a core made substantially of a first material and having a size less than or equal to about 500 nanometers wherein, the first material includes one or more solid lubricant materials; and   a shell on an external surface of the core, wherein the shell is substantially made of a second material.   
     
     
         17 . The nanoparticle of  claim 16 , wherein the shell substantially surrounds the core. 
     
     
         18 . The nanoparticle of  claim 16 , wherein the second material is one of a chemical agent and a reaction product of the chemical agent. 
     
     
         19 . A lubricant comprising;
 a base oil;   composite nanoparticles that include a core made of one or more materials and a shell made of another material, wherein the shell substantially surrounds the core; and   lubricant additives.   
     
     
         20 . The lubricant of  claim 19 , wherein a size of the composite nanoparticles is less than or equal to about 500 nanometers.