Anti-fretting additives for non-lubricated contact surfaces

Abstract

An anti-fretting rust preventative solution includes a rust preventative fluid and an anti-fretting additive dissolved in the rust preventative fluid. The anti-fretting additive includes at least one compound that is surface-active with steel to produce a low-shear velocity accommodation layer in a metal-to-metal interference fit. The anti-fretting rust preventative solution can be provided in a bearing assembly with metal-to-metal interference fits, as well as other applications where fretting wear may otherwise occur.

1 . An anti-fretting rust preventative solution comprising:
 a non-lubricating rust preventative fluid; and   an anti-fretting additive dissolved in the rust preventative fluid, the anti-fretting additive including at least one compound that is surface-active with steel to produce a low-shear velocity accommodation layer which operates under dry friction principles in a metal-to-metal interference fit.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 1 , wherein the rust preventative fluid is a hydrocarbon-based fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound is surface-active with steel to produce a low-shear velocity accommodation layer of boric acid. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 3 , wherein the compound includes at least one of a borate ester, a boronic ester, and a borinic ester. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one compound includes tri-alkyl borate where the alkyl group is one of an isopropyl group and an n-propyl group. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound is surface-active with steel to produce a low-shear velocity accommodation layer of molybdenum disulfide. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one compound includes molybdenum dithiophosphate. 
     
     
         8 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the anti-fretting additive is at least 0.5 percent and less than 50 percent by volume. 
     
     
         9 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the anti-fretting additive is between about 1 percent and about 10 percent by volume. 
     
     
         10 . The anti-fretting rust preventative solution of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the anti-fretting additive is about 5 percent by volume. 
     
     
         11 . A bearing assembly with anti-fretting properties, the bearing assembly comprising:
 a ring secured to a mating component with a non-lubricated metal-to-metal interference fit;   an anti-fretting rust preventative solution provided in at least the interference fit, the anti-fretting rust preventative solution including a non-lubricating rust preventative fluid and an anti-fretting additive dissolved in the rust preventative fluid, the anti-fretting additive including at least one compound that is surface-active with steel to produce a low-shear velocity accommodation layer which operates under dry friction principles.   
     
     
         12 . The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the rust preventative fluid is a hydrocarbon-based fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one compound is surface-active with steel to produce a low-shear velocity accommodation layer of boric acid. 
     
     
         14 . The bearing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one compound includes at least one of a borate ester, a boronic ester, and a borinic ester. 
     
     
         15 . The bearing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one compound includes tri-alkyl borate where the alkyl group is one of an isopropyl group and an n-propyl group. 
     
     
         16 . The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one compound is surface-active with steel to produce a low-shear velocity accommodation layer of molybdenum disulfide. 
     
     
         17 . The bearing assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one compound includes molybdenum dithiophosphate. 
     
     
         18 . The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of the anti-fretting additive is at least 0.5 percent and less than 50 percent by volume. 
     
     
         19 . The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of the anti-fretting additive is between about 1 percent and about 10 percent by volume. 
     
     
         20 . The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of the anti-fretting additive is about 5 percent by volume. 
     
     
         21 . The bearing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the ring is an inner ring secured with the mating component, a shaft, with the interference fit, which is a first interference fit, and wherein the bearing assembly further comprises an outer ring secured in a bore of a housing with a second interference fit; and the anti-fretting rust preventative solution is further provided in the second interference fit.