Polyphenol shelled nanoparticles lubricating composition and method

Abstract

A compound for enhancing lubrication includes nanoparticles having a size less than 100 nm; and a polyphenol derived agent coating an external surface of the nanoparticles for enhancing the lubrication.

1 . A compound for enhancing lubrication, the compound comprising:
 nanoparticles having a size less than 100 nm; and   a polyphenol derived agent coating an external surface of the nanoparticles for enhancing the lubrication.   
     
     
         2 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are made of TiO 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The compound of  claim 2 , wherein the TiO 2  nanoparticles are in anatase phase and have a size between 20 and 25 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are made of ZrO 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein the polyphenol derived agent is a gallic acid ester. 
     
     
         6 . The compound of  claim 5 , wherein the gallic acid ester is a 2-octyl dodecyl gallic acid ester (ODG). 
     
     
         7 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein the polyphenol derived agent includes a polar functional group. 
     
     
         8 . The compound of  claim 7 , wherein the functional group includes one or more of (B—COOH)—R, (B—COH)—R, (B(OH)n)-R, or (O═B—O)—R, where B is a benzyl ring, R is an alkyl chain, C is carbon, O is oxygen, and H is hydrogen. 
     
     
         9 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein the polyphenol derived agent includes a ring having (i) a polar part Y 1 and (ii) an alkyl chain R 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The compound of  claim 9 , wherein the alkyl chain R 1  is a linear or branched hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 350 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         11 . An oil mixture with improved lubrication, the oil mixture comprising:
 nanoparticles having a size less than 100 nm;   a polyphenol derived agent coating an external surface of the nanoparticles for enhancing the lubrication; and   an oil in which the nanoparticles coated with the polyphenol derived agent are distributed.   
     
     
         12 . The oil mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles are made of TiO 2  in anatase phase and have a size between 20 and 25 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The oil mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the nanoparticles are made of ZrO 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The oil mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the polyphenol derived agent is a gallic acid ester. 
     
     
         15 . The oil mixture of  claim 14 , wherein the gallic acid ester is a 2-octyl dodecyl gallic acid ester (ODG). 
     
     
         16 . The oil mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the polyphenol derived agent includes a polar functional group. 
     
     
         17 . The oil mixture of  claim 16 , wherein the functional group includes one or more of (B—COOH)—R, (B—COH)—R, (B(OH)n)-R, or (O═B—O)—R, where B is a benzyl ring, R is an alkyl chain, C is carbon, O is oxygen, and H is hydrogen. 
     
     
         18 . The oil mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the polyphenol derived agent includes a ring having (i) a polar part Y 1  and (ii) an alkyl chain R 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The oil mixture of  claim 18 , wherein the alkyl chain R 1  is a linear or branched hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 350 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         20 . A method for making a compound for enhancing lubrication, the method comprising:
 providing nanoparticles having a size less than 100 nm;   oxidizing an external surface of the nanoparticles with an oxidizing agent to initiate a functional group on the external surface;   preparing a 2-octyl dodecyl gallic acid ester;   placing the nanoparticles with the functional group into EtOH and water solution; and   adding, in a dropwise manner, the 2-octyl dodecyl gallic acid ester into the EtOH and water solution to coat the nanoparticles with the 2-octyl dodecyl gallic acid ester.