NU 2022-205
INVENTORS
Harry D Wise
Tobias Vela
Martin Qian
Wang Yip-Wah Chung
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A technique to create a pre-conditioned surface tribofilm onto a surface with the use of any lubricant.
ABSTRACT
Machinery in industrial, transportation, and military settings regularly comes under heavy use and thus lubricants are needed to ensure smooth operations of the platforms, particularly in harsh or adverse conditions. Northwestern scientists have developed a surface conditioning technology using special metastable chemicals called CPCa-based additives. In a mechanical system with components under contact and rubbing, lubrication is used to reduce friction and wear. Usually, the lubricant used contains additives that help for an in-situ protection layer. However, in some cases, the lubrication has to be done with a fluid without additives, such as a fuel, which means that the lubricant’s ability to form a surface protection layer is low. Our technology is to pre-condition the surfaces in such a system in a maintenance. After the treatment, he system is then ready for its next cycle of regular use.
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
Significant reduction in long-term friction and wear on steel surfaces.
IP STATUS
Issued US Patent No. US 2024-028704-A1
Tribofilm being produced with this advanced coating technique