Environmentally-Friendly Lubricant Compositions

Abstract

A lubricant additive composition having environmentally compatible characteristics as defined by European Council Directive 67/548/EEC is disclosed. Such a composition may include components selected from non-persistent materials, non-bioaccumulative materials, or non-toxic materials.

1 . An environmentally compatible lubricant additive composition comprising four or more tribologically functional components, wherein each component is selected from the group consisting of a non-persistent material, a non-bioaccumulative material, and a non-toxic material, and the additive composition is devoid of components that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. 
     
     
         2 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the tribologically functional components comprise materials selected from the group consisting of: antioxidants, dispersants, detergents, viscosity index improvers, friction modifiers, pour point depressants, antiwear agents, extreme pressure agents, rust inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, foam inhibitors, seal swell additives, and diluents. 
     
     
         3 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 . wherein the non-persistent material is determined by a biodegradation test selected from the group consisting of a dissolved organic carbon die-away test, a modified OECD screening dissolved organic carbon die-away test, a carbon dioxide evolution test, a manometric respirometry test, a closed bottle test, a MITI test, a Zahn-Wellens test, an activated sludge simulation test, an activated sludge respiration inhibition test, and a modified SCAS test. 
     
     
         4 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-bioaccumulative material is determined by a bioconcentration factor test comprising a flow-through fish test. 
     
     
         5 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-bioaccumulative material has bioconcentration factor test result below 2000. 
     
     
         6 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-toxic material is determined by a toxicity test selected from the group consisting of an acute toxicity for fish test, an acute toxicity for Daphnia test, and an algal inhibition test. 
     
     
         7 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-toxic material is devoid of a toxic effect at an aqueous concentration below 0.01 mg/L on a toxicity test. 
     
     
         8 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein a non-persistent material is a material having an acceptable score on a biodegradation test selected from at least one of the following:
 a) a half-life in marine water is less than 60 days;   b) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water is less than 40 days;   c) a half-life in marine sediment is less than 180 days;   d) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water sediment less than 120 days; or   e) a half-life in soil less than 120 days.   
     
     
         9 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components is selected from the group consisting of: a sulfurized neopentyl glycol phosphate, a substituted succinimide, a reaction product of a C 16  alkyl dicarboxylic acid and ammonia, a fatty amine ethoxylate, an oleamide, and a dodecyl succinic acid. 
     
     
         10 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a pour point depressant. 
     
     
         11 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a viscosity index improver. 
     
     
         12 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a foam inhibitor. 
     
     
         13 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a seal swell agent. 
     
     
         14 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises an adipate. 
     
     
         15 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a sulfurized isobutylene. 
     
     
         16 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises an alkylthiadiazole. 
     
     
         17 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises an alkylpolymethacrylate comprising less than 0.3% weight of unreacted monomer. 
     
     
         18 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises an olefin copolymer or a multifunctional olefin copolymer viscosity index improver comprising less than 0.3% weight of unreacted monomer. 
     
     
         19 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a polyalphaolefin. 
     
     
         20 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is useful in grease compositions. 
     
     
         21 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is useful in cutting, quenching, or rolling applications. 
     
     
         22 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is transported to any site within Europe by a method selected from ship, air, rail, and truck. 
     
     
         23 . The lubricant additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is manufactured in the USA or Canada. 
     
     
         24 . An environmentally compatible lubricating composition, comprising:
 a) a major amount of a base oil; and   b) a minor amount of an additive composition, comprising four or more tribologically functional components, wherein each component comprises at least one of: an acceptable level biodegradation as determined by a biodegradation test, a bioconcentration factor below 2000, or is devoid of a toxic effect at an aqueous concentration below 0.01 mg/L on a toxicity test.   
     
     
         25 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein the tribologically functional components comprise materials selected from the group consisting of. antioxidants, dispersants, detergents, viscosity index improvers, friction modifiers, pour point depressants, antiwear agents, extreme pressure agents, rust inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, foam inhibitors, seal swell additives, and diluents. 
     
     
         26 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein the biodegradation test is selected from the group consisting of a dissolved organic carbon die-away test, a modified OECD screening dissolved organic carbon die-away test, a carbon dioxide evolution test, a manometric respirometry test, a closed bottle test, a MITI test, a Zahn-Wellens test, an activated sludge simulation test, an activated sludge respiration inhibition test, and a modified SCAS test. 
     
     
         27 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein the bioconcentration factor test comprises a flow-through fish test. 
     
     
         28 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein the toxicity test is selected from the group consisting of an acute toxicity for fish test, an acute toxicity for Daphnia test, and an algal inhibition test. 
     
     
         29 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein the acceptable score on a biodegradation test comprises at least one of the following:
 a) a half-life in marine water is less than 60 days;   b) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water is less than 40 days;   c) a half-life in marine sediment is less than 180 days;   d) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water sediment less than 120 days; or   e) a half-life in soil less than 120 days.   
     
     
         30 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein the base oil is selected from a gas-to-liquid (GTL) base oil, a Group I base oil, a Group II base oil, a Group III base oil, a Group IV base oil, an ester, a vegetable oil, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a pour point depressant. 
     
     
         32 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a viscosity index improver. 
     
     
         33 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a foam inhibitor. 
     
     
         34 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a seal swell additive. 
     
     
         35 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises an adipate. 
     
     
         36 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a sulfurized isobutylene. 
     
     
         37 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises an alkylthiadiazole. 
     
     
         38 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises an alkylpolymethacrylate comprising less than 0.3% weight of unreacted monomer. 
     
     
         39 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises an olefin copolymer or a multifunctional olefin copolymer viscosity index improver comprising less than 0.3% weight of unreacted monomer. 
     
     
         40 . The additive composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components comprises a polyalphaolefin. 
     
     
         41 . The lubricating composition of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the components is selected from the group consisting of: a sulfurized neopentyl glycol phosphate, a substituted succinimide, a reaction product of a C 16  alkyl dicarboxylic acid and ammonia, a fatty amine ethoxylate, an oleamide, and a dodecyl succinic acid. 
     
     
         42 . A method of making an environmentally compatible lubricant composition, comprising combining a major amount of a base oil and a minor amount of an additive composition, comprising four or more tribologically functional components, wherein each component is selected from: a material having an acceptable level of biodegradation, a material having a bioconcentration factor below 2000, and a material that is devoid of a toxic effect at an aqueous concentration below 0.01 mg/L on a toxicity test, wherein the lubricant composition complies with European Council Directive 67/548/EEC. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the tribologically functional component further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: antioxidants, dispersants, detergents, viscosity index improvers, friction modifiers, pour point depressants, antiwear agents, extreme pressure agents, rust inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, foam inhibitors, seal swell additives, and diluents. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the biodegradation test is selected from the group consisting of a dissolved organic carbon die-away test, a modified OECD screening dissolved organic carbon die-away test, a carbon dioxide evolution test, a manometric respirometry test, a closed bottle test, a MITI test, a Zahn-Wellens test, an activated sludge simulation test, an activated sludge respiration inhibition test, and a modified SCAS test. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the bioconcentration factor test comprises a flow-through fish test. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the toxicity test is selected from the group consisting of an acute toxicity for fish test, an acute toxicity for Daphnia test, and an algal inhibition test. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the acceptable score on a biodegradation test comprises at least one of the following:
 a) a half-life in marine water is less than 60 days;   b) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water is less than 40 days;   c) a half-life in marine sediment is less than 180 days;   d) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water sediment less than 120 days; or   e) a half-life in soil less than 120 days.   
     
     
         48 . An environmentally compatible lubricating composition comprising:
 a) a major amount of a base oil; and   b) a minor amount of an additive composition, comprising four or more tribologically functional components, wherein each component is selected from the group consisting of non-persistent materials, non-bioaccumulative materials and non-toxic materials, and the additive composition is devoid of components that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.   
     
     
         49 . The lubricating composition of  claim 48 , wherein the tribologically functional components comprise materials selected from the group consisting of: antioxidants, dispersants, detergents, viscosity index improvers, friction modifiers, pour point depressants, antiwear agents, extreme pressure agents, rust inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, foam inhibitors, seal swell additives, and diluents. 
     
     
         50 . A method of lubricating a machine part comprising lubricating said machine part with a lubricant composition comprising an additive composition of  claim 48 . 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said machine part comprises a gear, an axle, a differential, an engine, a crankshaft, a transmission, or a clutch. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said transmission is selected from the group consisting of an automatic transmission, a manual transmission, an automated manual transmission, a semi-automatic transmission, a dual clutch transmission, a continuously variable transmission, and a toroidal transmission. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said transmission comprises a continuously slipping torque converter clutch, a slipping torque converter, a lock-up torque converter, a starting clutch, one or more shifting clutches, or an electronically controlled converter clutch. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said gear is selected from the group consisting of an automotive gear, a stationary gearbox, and an axle. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said gear is selected from the group consisting of a hypoid gear, a spur gear, a helical gear, a bevel gear, a worm gear, a rack and pinion gear, a planetary gear set, and an involute gear. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said differential is selected from the group consisting of a straight differential, a turning differential, a limited slip differential, a clutch-type limited slip differential, and a locking differential. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said engine is selected from the group consisting of an internal combustion engine, a rotary engine, a gas turbine engine, a four-stroke engine, and a two-stroke engine. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said engine comprises a piston, a bearing, a crankshaft, and/or a camshaft.