Lubricant compositions and methods

Abstract

A process for manufacturing a lubricant composition comprises combining a superabsorbent polymer with a material for decreasing friction between surfaces that frictionally engage one another, by polymerizing monomers of the superabsorbent polymer with the material for decreasing friction, or polymerizing the monomers for forming the superabsorbent polymer with the material for decreasing friction and a binder, where the binder is selected from thermoplastic resins or curable resins. The superabsorbent polymer 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. The material for decreasing friction comprises a petroleum lubricant, synthetic lubricant, grease, solid lubricant or metal working lubricant optionally containing a lubricant additive, or mixtures thereof. The process encompasses conducting the polymerization and coating the lubricant composition on a surface such as a wire or cable. The various processes also yield products produced by the process.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
     
     
         30 . A process for manufacturing a composition comprising combining a polymer with a material for decreasing friction between surfaces that frictionally engage one another, wherein said polymer comprises a superabsorbent polymer, by polymerizing monomers comprising the monomers for forming said superabsorbent polymer with said material for decreasing friction.  
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 30 , comprising polymerizing said monomers for forming said superabsorbent polymer with said material for decreasing friction and a material comprising a binder, wherein said binder is selected from thermoplastic resins or curable resins.  
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 30 , wherein said superabsorbent polymer comprises a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile or acrylamide, including co-polymers thereof or starch graft co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 31 , wherein said superabsorbent polymer comprises a polymer of acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, acrylonitrile or acrylamide, including co-polymers thereof or starch graft co-polymers thereof or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction comprises a lubricant which is a petroleum lubricant, synthetic lubricant, grease, solid lubricant or metal working lubricant optionally containing an additive.  
     
     
         35 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction comprises a solid inorganic lubricant.  
     
     
         36 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein said solid inorganic lubricant is graphite, molybdenum disulfide, cobalt chloride, antimony oxide, niobium selenide, tungsten sulfide, mica, boron nitride, silver sulfate, cadmium oxide, cadmium chloride, cadmium iodide, borax, basic white lead, lead monoxide, lead carbonate, lead iodide, asbestos, talc, zinc oxide, carbon, babbit, bronze, brass, aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, thorium, copper, silver, gold, mercury, lead, tin, indium, or the Group VIII noble metals or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 35  wherein said solid inorganic lubricant comprises the chalcogenides of a non-noble metal and mixtures of said solid inorganic lubricant.  
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 37  wherein said solid inorganic lubricant is a chalcogenide of molybdenum, antimony, niobium, and tungsten and mixtures of said solid inorganic lubricant.  
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 38  wherein said solid inorganic lubricant is a sulfide of molybdenum, antimony, niobium, and tungsten and mixtures of said solid inorganic lubricant.  
     
     
         40 . The composition of any one of claims  37 - 39  wherein said mixture comprises a two component mixture of said lubricants.  
     
     
         41 . The composition of any one of claims  37 - 39  wherein said mixture comprises a three component mixture of said lubricants.  
     
     
         42 . The composition of any one of claims  37 - 39  wherein said mixture comprises a four component mixture of said lubricants.  
     
     
         43 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction comprises a phosphate.  
     
     
         44 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction is tricresyl phosphate, zinc phosphate, iron phosphate or manganese phosphate, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         45 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction comprises a solid organic lubricant.  
     
     
         46 . The process of  claim 45 , 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.  
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction comprises a metal working lubricant.  
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction comprises a petroleum oil lubricant.  
     
     
         49 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction comprises a grease.  
     
     
         50 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein said material for decreasing friction comprises a silicone.  
     
     
         51 . A product made by the process of any one of claims  30 - 50 .  
     
     
         52 . The process of any one of claims  30 - 50  comprising conducting said polymerization and coating said composition on a surface.  
     
     
         53 . The process of  claim 30  comprising conducting said polymerization and coating said composition on a wire.  
     
     
         54 . The process of  claim 30  comprising conducting said polymerization and coating said composition on a cable.  
     
     
         55 . The process of  claim 32  comprising conducting said polymerization and coating said composition on a wire.  
     
     
         56 . The process of  claim 32  comprising conducting said polymerization and coating said composition on a cable.  
     
     
         57 . A product made by the process of  claim 52 .  
     
     
         58 . A product made by the process of any one of claims  53 - 56 .