High temperature biobased lubricant compositions from boron nitride

Abstract

This present invention discloses a method for the preparation of an improved high temperature engine lubricant composition comprising the steps of: 1) providing at least one biobased natural oil or biobased synthetic oil selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic vegetable oil, natural or synthetic animal oil, genetically modified vegetable oil, genetically modified synthetic vegetable oil, natural or synthetic tree oil, and mixtures thereof; 2) providing at least one boron nitride; and 3) optionally, providing at least one base oil selected from the group consisting of a synthetic ester, solvent refined petroleum oil, a hydrocracked petroleum white oil, an all hydroprocessed synthetic oil, Fischer Tropsch oil, petroleum oil group I, group II, group III, a polyalphaolefin (PAO), and mixtures thereof; 4) optionally, providing at least one additive or combination of additives selected from the group consisting of anti-oxidant(s), corrosion inhibitor(s), metal deactivator(s), viscosity modifier(s), anti-wear inhibitor(s), friction modifier(s), and extreme pressure agent(s); 5) blending 1), 2), 3), and 4) in any sequence to form said composition.

1 . A liquid lubricant comprising:
 at least one biobased oil selected from the group comprising: natural or synthetic vegetable oils, natural or synthetic animal oils, genetically modified vegetable oils, genetically modified synthetic vegetable oils, natural or synthetic tree oils, and mixtures thereof; and,   at least one boron nitride, wherein the boron nitride is in suspension in the biobased oil.   
   
   
       2 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant further comprises at least one base oil selected from the group comprising: synthetic esters, solvent refined petroleum oils, hydrocracked petroleum white oils, all hydroprocessed synthetic oils, Fischer Tropsch oils, group I petroleum oils, group II petroleum oils, group III petroleum oils, polyalphaolefins (PAOs), and mixtures thereof, wherein the base oil, the biobased oil, and the boron nitride are food grade. 
   
   
       3 . The lubricant of  claim 2 , wherein the lubricant further comprises:
 at least one additive or combination of additives selected from the group comprising: anti-oxidants, corrosion inhibitors, metal deactivators, viscosity modifiers, anti-wear inhibitors, friction modifiers, and extreme pressure, wherein the base oil, the biobased oil, the boron nitride, and the additive are all H-1 approved food grade.   
   
   
       4 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the oil is a triglyceride having the formula 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups that contain from 7 to 23 carbon atoms, wherein the lubricant does not include a thickener. 
   
   
       5 . The lubricant of  claim 4 , wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups are chosen from the group comprising: aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, and hetero groups. 
   
   
       6 . The lubricant of  claim 5 , wherein the triglyceride has an oleic acid profile of approximately 60% or above. 
   
   
       7 . The lubricant of  claim 4 , wherein the triglyceride has a monounsaturated character of approximately 60% or greater. 
   
   
       8 . The lubricant of  claim 7 , wherein the triglyceride has a monounsaturated character of approximately 70% or greater. 
   
   
       9 . The lubricant of  claim 8 , wherein the triglyceride has a monounsaturated character of approximately 80% or greater. 
   
   
       10 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the oil is approximately 5% to approximately 99.9% by weight of the lubricant and the boron nitride is approximately 0.002% to approximately 50% by weight of the lubricant, wherein the lubricant maintains stability at temperatures above 500° C. 
   
   
       11 . The lubricant of  claim 10 , wherein the oil is approximately 65% to approximately 99.9% by weight of the lubricant and the boron nitride is approximately 0.002% to approximately 35% by weight of the lubricant. 
   
   
       12 . The lubricant of  claim 11 , wherein the oil is approximately 95% to approximately 99.998% by weight of the lubricant and the boron nitride is approximately 0.002% to approximately 5% by weight of the lubricant. 
   
   
       13 . The lubricant of  claim 3 , wherein the biobased oil is approximately 5% to approximately 90% by weight of the lubricant, the boron nitride is approximately 0.002% to approximately 80% by weight of the lubricant, the base oil is approximately 20% to approximately 80% by weight of the lubricant, and the additive is approximately 0.001% to approximately 80% by weight of the lubricant, wherein the lubricant maintains stability at temperatures above 500° C. 
   
   
       14 . The lubricant of  claim 13 , wherein the biobased oil is approximately 40% to approximately 80% by weight of the lubricant, the boron nitride is approximately 0.002% to approximately 35% by weight of the lubricant, the base oil is approximately 10% to approximately 20% by weight of the lubricant, and the additive is approximately 0.001% to approximately 40% by weight of the lubricant. 
   
   
       15 . The lubricant of  claim 14 , wherein the biobased oil is approximately 60% to approximately 90% by weight of the lubricant, the boron nitride is approximately 0.002% to approximately 5% by weight of the lubricant, the base oil is approximately 1% to approximately 10% by weight of the lubricant, and the additive is approximately 0.001% to approximately 20% by weight of the lubricant. 
   
   
       16 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the oil is approximately 50% by weight, or less, of the lubricant and the boron nitride is approximately 50% by weight, or greater, of the lubricant, wherein the lubricant maintains stability at temperatures above 500° C. 
   
   
       17 . The lubricant of  claim 3 , wherein the biobased oil is approximately 50% by weight, or less, of the lubricant, the base oil, boron nitride, and additives together are approximately 50% by weight, or greater, of the lubricant, wherein the lubricant maintains stability at temperatures above 500° C. 
   
   
       18 . The lubricant of  claim 3 , wherein the biobased oil, boron nitride, and additives together are approximately 50% by weight, or less, of the lubricant, and the base oil is approximately 50% by weight, or greater, of the lubricant, wherein the lubricant maintains stability at temperatures above 500° C. 
   
   
       19 . A method for enhancing lubrication of equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
 blending at least one food grade boron nitride with at least one liquid food grade biobased oil selected from the group comprising: natural or synthetic vegetable oils, natural or synthetic animal oils, genetically modified vegetable oils, genetically modified synthetic vegetable oils, natural or synthetic tree oils, and mixtures thereof, wherein the boron nitride is in suspension in the oil; and,   adding an effective amount of the oil and boron nitride to the equipment.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 prior to adding to the equipment, blending at least one base oil selected from the group comprising: synthetic esters, solvent refined petroleum oils, hydrocracked petroleum white oils, all hydroprocessed synthetic oils, Fischer Tropsch oils, group I petroleum oils, group II petroleum oils, group III petroleum oils, polyalphaolefins (PAOs), and mixtures thereof with the biobased oil and boron nitride, wherein the composition contains substantially no thickeners.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 prior to adding to the equipment, blending at least one additive or combination of additives selected from the group comprising: anti-oxidants, corrosion inhibitors, metal deactivators, viscosity modifiers, anti-wear inhibitors, friction modifiers, and extreme pressure with the biobased oil, the base oil, and the boron nitride.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 providing a dry lubricating film of the boron nitride when temperatures exceed the auto-ignition temperature of the biobased oil, wherein the equipment is high temperature equipment, wherein operation temperatures exceed 500° C.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the film is created without developing hard carbon deposits. 
   
   
       24 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition creates a dry lubricating film of the boron nitride when temperatures exceed the auto-ignition temperature of the biobased oil. 
   
   
       25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the film is created without developing hard carbon deposits. 
   
   
       26 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biobased oil is sunflower oil, and the boron nitride is hexagonal boron nitride powder, wherein the boron nitride is in an amount greater than 2% by weight. 
   
   
       27 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is substantially free of sulfur. 
   
   
       28 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the boron nitride is approximately 11% to approximately 80% by weight. 
   
   
       29 . The lubricant of  claim 28 , wherein the boron nitride is approximately 35% to approximately 80% by weight. 
   
   
       30 . The lubricant of  claim 1 , wherein the boron nitride is approximately 0.002% by weight. 
   
   
       31 . The lubricant of  claim 27 , wherein the lubricant further comprises at least one base oil selected from the group comprising: all hydroprocessed synthetic oils, Fischer Tropsch oils, and mixtures thereof.