Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of polymer chemistry and pertains to lubricant compositions comprising perfluoropolyether oils containing perfluoropolyether solid fillers.

Background of the Invention

Perfluoropolyethers have long been recognized for their outstanding thermal properties and their wide liquid ranges. These properties make the polymers outstanding bases for high performance lubricants. Most perfluoropolyether lubricants are comprised of perfluoropolyether oils containing polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE; Teflon TM polymer) fillers which serve to thicken the oil into a paste.

However, some problems are associated with perfluoro-

TM polyether-based lubricants containing Teflon polymer as filler.

Although these greases have adequate shelf lives often exceeding several years, they have a tendency to separate into two phases, an oil phase and a solid phase, when subjected to high tempera¬ tures. For-example at 400°F, approximately 11% of the oil in a Teflon TM-based KrytoxTM grease sepa¬ rates in 30 hours into a clear phase leaving behind a much thicker paste. The degree of separation is much more pronounced as the temperature is raised still higher.

Sum ary of the Invention

This invention pertains to lubricant composi¬ tions comprising perfluoropolyether oils and per¬ fluoropolyether solid fillers. The perfluoropoly¬ ether solid filler comprises about 20 to about 70% by weight of the composition, depending upon the viscosity of the base perfluoropolyether oil, the particle size of the solid, and desired thickness of the lubricant composition. The lubricants can be prepared by simply mixing the perfluoropolyether solid and the perfluoropolyether oil.

Greases made using perfluoropolyethers as thickeners do not exhibit this separation phenomenon since the oil and solid, being of the same composi¬ tion, are extremely compatible. Other noteworthy advantages associated with these lubricants relate to the stability and the mechanism of decomposition.

Most perfluoropolyethers are approximately 50°C more stable than Teflon TM so the useful temperature range of the grease can often be extended. Furthermore, unlike Teflon TM, perfluoropolyethers decompose cleanly into only gaseous and liquid by-products without leaving behind a carbonaceous residue. This unique advantage makes lubrication of very high temperature-surfaces possible if a system is de¬ signed to continuously feed the lubricant onto the surface to be lubricated.

The greases are useful lubricants for aircraft components, missiles, satellites, space vehicles and attendant ground support systems. Their high degree of chemical inertness make them useful lubricants

for food processing equipment, for valves and fittings, and for use in high vacuum environments, pneumatic systems and cryogenic apparati.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The lubricant compositions of this invention are greases comprising perfluoropolyether oils filled with perfluoropolyether solids. The solid filler comprises about 20 to about 70 percent by weight of the grease, preferably about 20 to about 40 percent by weight.

The amount of perfluoropolyether solid required to thicken the grease is dependent upon the particle size of the solid. Ideally, an ultrafine particle is desired so that a minimal amount of thickener is required. However, the technology does not yet exist to produce these very fine powders. Powder of approximately 200 mesh can presently be made by direct fluorination of fine particles of the hydro¬ carbon polyether. If larger particles are fluorin- ated, then cryogenic grinding of the perfluoro¬ polyether solids with liquid nitrogen can be used to obtain the fine particles.

Suitable perfluoropolyether oils for the lubricant compositions include Du Pont's Krytox TM fluid, Montedison's Fomblin Y TM fluid and Fomblm

Z TM fluids, Daikin's DemnumTM fluid as well as other perfluoropolyethers which can be made by direct fluorination of hydrocarbon polyethers. These include the perfluorinated copolymers of hexa- fluoroacetone and cyclic oxygen-containing compounds

desσribed in United States Patent Application Serial Number 756,781, entitled "Perfluorinated Polyether Fluids", filed July 18, 1985; the 1:1 copolymer of difluoromethylene oxide and tetrafluoroethylene oxide described in United States Patent Application Serial Number 796,625, entitled "A 1:1 Copolymer of Difluoromethylene Oxide and Tetrafluoroethylene Oxide", filed November 8, 1985; perfluoropoly- methylene oxide and related perfluoropolyethers containing high concentrations of difluoromethylene oxide units described in United States Patent Application Serial Number 796,622, entitled "Per¬ fluoropolyethers", filed November 8, 1985.

The choice of perfluoropolyether solid may vary depending upon the application. However, for most applications, a solid perfluoropolyether having a composition identical to that of the fluid is usually desired. By matching the solid with the fluid, the thermal stability of the solid matches that of the oil and the compatibility of the solid with the fluid is obviously maximized. For example, perfluoropolyethylene oxide fluid. If a commercial fluid such as rytox TM, Fomblin YT "M , Fomblin ZTM or Demnum TM is used, a comparable said polyether can be made using direct fluorination technology. For example, the fluorination of high molecular weight

(750,000 amu) pol (propylene oxide) gives a solid polyether with a composition identical to that of

Krytox TM or Fomblin YTM fluids. Similarly, the fluorination of poly(methylene oxide ethylene oxide) copolymer (United States Patent Application Serial

t

Nu ber 796,625) and poly(trimethylene oxide) can be used to prepare solid perfluoropolyethers with composi .ti.ons si.milar to that of Fomblin ZTM .and Demnum TM fluids, respectively.

For the most part, the perfluoropolyethers prepared by direct fluorination are free-flowing white powders. They are usually prepared by mixing a high molecular weight polyether powder (50,000 amu or higher) with a hydrogen fluoride scavenger such as sodium fluoride (1:3 ration) . The polyether/ sodium fluoride mixture is then placed in a rotating drum through which gaseous fluorine diluted with nitrogen is passed. Reaction times of 6-24 hours are usually employed while initial fluorine concen¬ trations of 10-30% work well. A final treatment at elevated temperatures 60-150°C in pure fluorine is typically required to insure perfluorination. Yields varying between 75 and 90% are usually obtained with yields between 80 and 85% being most common. The perfluoropolyether product is usually separated from the hydrogen fluoride scavenger by dissolution of the scavenger in water.

The lubricants of this invention are generally prepared by simply mixing the solids with the oil and allowing the two to stand for approximately 12 hours. Heating the mixture to a temperature below the decomposition temperature helps to decrease the time required for the grease to reach its final form

"1 which is a transparent gel. In order to improve the clarity and homogeneity of the grease, it can be forced through a high-pressure, lowporosity filter.

Alternatively, the perfluoropolyether oil can be dissolved in a solvent such as Freon 113 to decrease the time required for the oil to wet out the solids. When preparing grease using this approach, thickener is mixed with the solvent/oil mixture and the solvent is evaporated using elevated temperatures leaving behind a grease which can be then filtered immediately.

There are several advantages to using perfluoro- polyether solids rather than Teflon TM polymer as a filler. Polyether solids, being of identical or very similar structure to the perfluoropolyether fluids, show no evidence of separation since the affinity of the fluid for the solid is essentially the same as the affinity of the fluid for itself.

Thus, the driving force for partitioning has been eliminated. Perfluoropolyether solids do not melt or fuse like TFE or FEP Teflon TM polymers. For example, if a Teflon TM polymer filled grease is placed next to a perfluoropolyether solid filled grease on a hot plate, the Teflon TM filled grease separates around the edges to an oil and a crust of

TM solid Teflon at about 400°C. Under the same conditions, the perfluoropolyether solids filled greases do not separate and the only observable change in the lubricant is a slight thickening with time. No crust is formed against the hot surface and the grease retains much more of the original perfluoropolyether oil.

Another advantage is that the perfluoropoly¬ ether solids have essentially the same properties as

the oil especially if the same structure is used. The perfluoropolyether solids, like the oil, leave no residue when they are decomposed. In contrast, Teflon TM polymer leaves about a two percent residue when decomposed at high temperatures.

As mentioned, the thermal stability of the perfluoropolyether solids can be matched to the oil by using solids that have the same structure (i.e., use perfluoropropylene oxide solid in perfluoro- propylene oxide oils) . However, it does not appear to be necessary to use the same structure to get the advantages listed including the improved com¬ patibility. By using the same structure in the solids and the oil, it may be possible to use the grease to lubricate parts that are above the decom¬ position temperature by continuously feeding the grease. With a Teflon TM filled grease, the residue might present some problems with this approach.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1 20 grams of perfluoropoly(ethylene oxide) solids (pass 100 mesh) were mixed with 30 grams of a 5000 amu perfluoropol (ethylene oxide) fluid. The resulting paste was treated at 200°C for one hour, then filtered through a 50 micron filter to give a clear gel.

EXAMPLE 2 20 grams of perfluoropoly(ethylene-oxide) solids (pass 100 mesh) were mixed with 30 grams of a

500 amu perfluoropoly(ethylene oxide) fluid and 100 cc Freon 113. The resulting mixture was placed on a hot plate in order to evaporate the Freon. The resulting past was filtered to give a clear gel.

EXAMPLE 3 20 grams of perfluoropoly(ethylene oxide) solids (pass 200 mesh) were mixed with 40 grams of a 5000 amu perfluoropoly(ethylene oxide) fluid. The grease was allowed to stand for 24 hours, then filtered to give the finished product.

EXAMPLE 4 100 grams of poly(propylene oxide) solids prepared from propylene oxide using a ferric chlo¬ ride catalyst was fluorinated with 20% fluorine (0°C) in a 24 hour reaction to give 150 grams of a viscous, Freon 113-soluble fluid plus 60 grams of perfluoropoly(propylene oxide) solids. The solids were ground cryogenically to a 100 mesh powder. 20 grams of the powder were mixed with 35 grams of Krytox 143AB fluid along with 100 cc of Freon 113. The Freon was removed by placing the mixture in a vacuum oven. A clear gel was obtained upon filter¬ ing.

EXAMPLE 5 20 grams of high molecular weight perfluoro- poly(methylene oxide-ethylene oxide) solids were cryogenically ground to a 200 mesh powder and mixed with 50 grams of Fomblin Z-25. The perfluoro-

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poly(methylene oxide-ethylene oxide) solids were prepared by polymerizing 1,3-dioxolane (1M) with

__5 trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (9x10 M) in methy¬ lene chloride (1M) . The product, a viscous so¬ lution, was mixed with NaF powder (9.7M) and the methylene chloride was evaporated in a 50°C vacuum oven. The resulting solids were ground to a 200 mesh powder and fluorinated with 20% fluorine (6M) in a 24 hour reaction. The sodium fluoride was removed from the perfluorinated product by ex¬ traction with water (75L) .

Equivalents

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine exper¬ imentation, many equivalents to the specific embodi¬ ments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

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