Nanocrystal Additives for Advanced Lubricants

Better fuel economy and stringent environmental requirements continue to drive the search for engine oil lubricants with better performance and less pollution concerns. Inorganic additives have demonstrated good friction reduction results and eliminated the hazardous components from traditional organic friction modifiers. However, their dispersibility in lubricant formulations has been non-satisfactory and has become a major hurdle in their adoption into commercial application, since it directly affects to the performance, long term stability and appearance of the oil. Pixelligent proposes to develop an advanced lubricant package utilizing high quality nanocrystal additives to improve friction and wear properties. Our advanced dispersion technology allows us to tailor design the surface chemistry of the nanocrystals, which renders them superior dispersibility in lubricant oils, improving the lubrication performance without altering their clarity or viscosity. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits An extension of this SBIR project into Phase II and beyond will allow us to develop prototype lubricant package based on nanocrystal additives, and test and optimize their performance. The reduced wear provided by our nanocrystal additives will prolong the lifetime of engines and machine parts, while improving their overall life-cycle fuel efficiency. The nanocrystal additives also provide the added environmental benefit of displacing traditional chemical additives, which lead to more harmful emissions.