Pneumatic tool lubricant

Abstract

A lubricant for reducing or eliminating airborne lubricant exhaust mist in ambient air when used by a tool driven by compressed air. The lubricant includes between about 58 vol % and about 90 vol % polyalphaolefin or polyalphaolefin blend, and between about 10 vol % and about 42 vol % complex ester compatible with the polyalphaolefin or polyalphaolefin blend. The ester includes polymeric molecules with a cohesive tendency to adhere to each other, and when subjected to shear stresses, to form elongate filaments.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A lubricant for reducing or eliminating airborne lubricant exhaust mist in ambient air when used by a tool driven by compressed air, the lubricant comprising:
 between about 58 vol % and about 90 vol % polyalphaolefin or polyalphaolefin blend; and   between about 10 vol % and about 42 vol % complex ester compatible with the polyalphaolefin or polyalphaolefin blend, the ester comprising polymeric molecules with a cohesive tendency to adhere to each other, and when subjected to shear stresses, to form elongate filaments.   
     
     
         2 . A lubricant as claimed in  claim 1  in which the lubricant additionally comprises about 1.5 to 2 vol % of an anti-wear/extreme pressure, corrosion, and rust and oxidation additive. 
     
     
         3 . A lubricant as claimed in  claim 1  in which the lubricant has a viscosity in the range of 75 to 300 cSt at 40° C. 
     
     
         4 . A lubricant according to  claim 1  in which the complex ester has a polar molecular structure imparting to the lubricant a negative charge, wherein the lubricant is attracted to metal surfaces inside the tool made of positively charged ferrous metal and forms a tenacious film on the metal surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . A lubricant according to  claim 2  in which the lubricant comprises about 73.3 vol % of the polyalphaolefin or polyalphaolefin blend, about 25 vol % of the ester, and about 1.7 vol % of the anti-wear/extreme pressure, corrosion and rust and oxidation additive. 
     
     
         6 . A lubricant according to  claim 2  in which the polyalphaolefin or polyalphaolefin blend has a viscosity between about 7 cSt and 3,000 cSt at 40° C. 
     
     
         7 . A lubricant according to  claim 2  in which the viscosity of the polyalphaolefin or polyalphaolefin blend is between 2 cSt and 100 cSt at 40° C. 
     
     
         8 . A lubricant according to  claim 7  in which the viscosity of the polyalphaolefin or polyalphaolefin blend is between about 9 cSt and 10 cSt at 40° C.