AU664039B2

AU664039B2 - Lubricant composition

Info

Publication number: AU664039B2
Application number: AU21058/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Derek Kirkpatrick; Mitchell Gregory Wilson
Original assignee: Castrol Ltd
Current assignee: Castrol Ltd
Priority date: 1991-08-19
Filing date: 1992-08-14
Publication date: 1995-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-14
Also published as: AU2105892A

Description

i Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

664039 a os o «c a o o o a o la 9 o z Ii s o D o D 0 a a or e a o

EO

6 *e e Name of Applicant: -Gastrol--Austr-alia-Pty-Limitedcnsirol Livln+ od.

Actual Inventor(s): KIRKPATRICK, Derek WILSON, Mitchell Gregory Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Invention Title: Lubricant Composition Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PK 7844/91 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known ti me/us: -1i -2- LUBRICANT COMPOSITION 0 0 The present invention relates to a lubricant composition for use in 0 lubricating machinery or equipment having moving parts which require 0 00 lubrication. The invention is particll y concerned with lubricant compositions for use in machinery or equipment employed in underground 0 mining operations.

Lubricant compositions are generally composed of mineral oils. Such 000 compositions can be detrimental to the health and safety of the operators using the machinery or equipment particularly in confined areas underground and are not biodegradable and therefore harmful to the environment.

A particular example in which health and environmental hazards are of concern is when the operator is using air operated equipment such as roof bolters and other rock drilling equipment resulting in the lubricant composition being exhausted directly into the surrounding atmosphere producing oil mists.

4 These hazards have previously been minimised by the use of oil-inwater emulsions which significantly reduce the level of emissions and provide other advantages such as lower equipment temperatures and a decreased tendency to cause dieseling. Such oil-in-water emulsion-; are based on mineral oils.

LI

3 A requirement accordingly exists for a lubricant composition which is composed of materials which are less toxic and biodegradable.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid lubricant composition for use in lubricating machinery or equipment which is a water-in-oil emulsion comprising a biodegradable oil; an emulsifier; greater than 1% water by weight of the total composition; and S< 10 optionally other additives.

The biodegradable oil is one which exhibits improved biodegradability and lowered toxicity compared with conventional mineral oils. Preferably the biodegradable oil is a synthetic ester, a vegetable and/or an animal oil. Examples of vegetable and/or animal oils include oils based on cotton, groundnut, coconut, linseed, palm kernel, olive, corn, palm, castor, canola, soybean, sunflower, fish and tallow or mixtures thereof. More preferably, the biodegradable oil is a mixture of a vegetable oil such as canola, an animal oil such as tallow and an ester such as isopropyl myristate, methyl tallowate, ethyl tallowate, isobutyl tallowate and/or 20 butyl oleate. The amount of biodegradable oil in the lubricant composition is preferably 30 to 70% by weight of the total composition. More preferable compositions contain 30 to 60% vegetable oil and/or animal oil and 0 to 10% ester by weight of the total composition.

The emulsifier provides stability to the lubricant composition. Preferably, the enulsifier is biodegradable. The emulsifier may be selected from hydrophiliclipophilic balanced emulsifiers such as sodium lauryl ethoxy sulphate, maleic acid and monoethanol amine, ethoxylated alcohol for example -r ,gi^ g g r -4- Teric 17A6 (Registered Trade Mark), and methyl glucose dioleate for example Glucate DO (Registered Trade Mark); silicone based emulsifiers such as lauryl methicone copolyol for example DC Q2-5200 (Registered Trade Mark), and lauryl dimethicone copolyol for example AbiJ EM90 (Registered Trade Mark); glycerol esters such as glycerol mono-oleate, polyglycerol ester of interesterified riconoleic acid for example Triodan R90 (Registered Trade Mark), and polyglycerol ester of dimerised soya bean oil for example Homodan T2 (Registered Trade Mark); ethoxylated alcohols such as Teric 17A2 (Registered Trade Mark); glycol esters such as polypropylene glycol 10 ethoxylate for example Teric PE61 (Registered Trade Mark) or Teric PE62 (Registered Trade Mark); sorbitan derivatives such as sorbitan mono-oleate, ethoxylated sorbitan mono-oleate, ethoxylated glycerol sorbitan oleostearate for example Arlacel 581 (Registered Trade Mark), ethoxylated sorbitan isostearate for example Arlacel 582 (Registered Trade Mark), and glycerol sorbitan fatty acid ester for example Arlacel 986 (Registered Trade Mark); lecithin; vegetable oil based emulsifiers such as soya-amine ethoxylate for a example Teric 16M2 (Registered Trade Mark), partially re-esterified and oxidatively polymerized vegetable oil for example Relifier B (Registered Trade Mark), and sulphonated canola; inorganic emulsifiers such as zinc resinate, aluminium stearate and bentonite for example Bentone 27 (Registered Trade Mark); grease!; ,uch as :luminium complex grease for example Castrol FN(EP) grease (Registered Trade Mark), red rubber grease for example Castrol GRR(B) grease (Registered Trade Mark) and woolgrease; alkanoyl amides such as alkyl succinimide for example ADX 3130 (Registered Trade Mark); 4, .i 25 Lubrizol 5162 (Registered Trade Mark); calcium chloride and calcium carbonate; and beeswax with borax. The amoun' f emulsifier in the lubricant composition is preferably less than 10% by weight of the total composition.

The other additives may include any additives known in the lubricating oil art per se including emulsion stabilisers and anti-wear, anti-weld, anticorrosive and anti-oxidant additives. Preferably, the other additives are biodegradable. Suitable emulsion stabilisers include glycerol, ethylene glycol, r r propylene glycol, glycerine, sodium gluconate, sugar derivatives such as glucose and inorganic or organic salts such as sodium nitrite, sodium acetate, sodium benzoate, aluminium chloride, sodium gluconate, sodium thiosulfate, urea, sodium citrate, sodium bisulfite, ammonium sulfate and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid tetra-sodium salt. An example of an anti-wear or anti-weld additive is triphenyl phosphorothionate such as Irgalube TPPT (Registered Trade Mark). The amount of additive in the lubricant composition is preferably 0 to by weight of the total composition.

10 The balance of the lubricant composition is water which is preferably present in an amount of 5 to 60% by weight of the total composition. The advantage of employing lubricant compositions which are water based as Sopposed to lubricant compositions which are composed of mineral oils is that they produce less mist in use and are less likely to cause detonation of the lubricant composition in the machinery or equipment.

0 The lubricant composition of the invention is capable of performing the following functions: Friction Reduction The lubricant composition maintains a protective barrier between moving parts which prevents wear and seizure of the machinery or equipment.

(ii) Corrosion Protection As a consequence of its operating environment, machinery or equipment used in underground mining operations is often exposed to water having a high mineral content which can corrode metal surfaces. Therefore, the lubricating composition provides a barrier against corrosion.

r -6- (iii) SeigClearances Small gaps between moving parts can provide a route through which compressed air can pass. This results in lowered efficiency of the machinery or equipment. The lubricant composition forms a seal between the moving parts to reduce air losses.

The lubricant compositions of the invention may used to lubricate pneumatically operated drilling equipment, such as, for example, jack 10 hammers, roof bolters, sinkers and drifters.

S' It will be appreciated that although the lubricant compositions of the invention have been described with reference to underground mining operations, they may also be used in any other equipment or machinery having moving parts which require lubrication including chainsaw equipment and pneumatically operated drilling equipment, such as, for example down the hole hammers, jumbos and hand held equipment.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following examples. These examples are not to be construed as limiting the invention in any way.

Example 1 A lubricant composition was prepared from the following components.

Components Canola 54 Water Glycerol mono-oleate Sodium lauryl ethoxy sulfate 1 -"ax~ -7- Example 2 A lubricant composition was prepared from the following components.

Components Canola 56 Castrol GRR(B) grease 4 Water Variations on this composition include: Castrol GRR(B) grease (Registered Trade Mark) at 2%, or S" (ii) Canola at 66% or 76%, and/or (iii) Addition of ethoxylated alcohol [Teric 17A2 (Registered Trade Mark)] at beeswax at 3.0% with borax at sorbitan mono- .i oleate at Lubrizol 5162 (Registered Trade Mark) at 3.6% or lecithin at Example 3 A lubricant composition was prepared from the following components.

tit" Components Canola 54 ft Oleic acid 4 Monoethanolamine 2 Water Variations on this composition include: Substitution of oleic acid and monoethanolamine by: soya-amine ethoxylate [Teric 16M2 (Registered Trade Mark)] at ethoxylated sorbitan mono-oleate at -8calcium chloride and calcium carbonate at alkyl suc .nimide [ADX 3130 (Registered Trade Mark)] at 2.9%; lecithin at ethoxylated alcohol [Teric 17A6 (Registered Trade Mark)] at 0.35%; zinc resinate at or lauryl methicone copolyol [DC Q2-5200 (Registered Trade Mark)] at 2%.

Example 4 A lubricant composition was prepared from the following components.

Components Crisco Canola (Registered Trade Mark) 57 Aluminium stearate 3 Water Variations on this composition include: Substitution of aluminium stearate by: modified bentonite [Bentone 27 (Registered Trade Mark)] at 1%; methyl glucose dioleate [Glucate DO (Registered Trade Mark)] at 3%; aluminium complex grease [Castrol FN(EP) (Registered STrade Mark)] at or woolgrease at L: 1 -9- Example A lubricant composition was prepared from the following components.

Components Canola 42 Lauryl methicone copolyol Isopropyl myristate 6 Water Sodium chloride 2 Glycerol Variations on this composition include: Substitution of sodium chloride by: sodium nitrite at sodium acetate at sodium benzoate at aluminium chloride at sodium gluconate at S(f) sodium thiosulfate at urea at sodium citrate at sodium bisulfite at ammonium sulfate at or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid tetra-sodium salt at S(ii) Substituting lauryl methicone copolyol [DC Q2-5200 (Registered Trade Mark)] by lauryl dimethicone copolyol [Abil EM (Registered Trade Mark)] at 5.0% or (iii) Substituting isopropyl myristate by: isobutyl tallowate at 6%; butyl oleate at 6%; ethyl tallowate at or methyl tallowate at 6%, (iv) Substituting glycerol by: ethylene glycol at propylene glycol at or glucose at Addition of triphenyl phosphorothionate [Irgalube TPPT (Registered Trade Mark) at (vi) Substituting canola by: cotton seed oil at 53%; or castor oil at 53%, and/or 444 (vii) Substituting lauryl methicone copolyol by: Arlacel 986 (Registered Trade Mark) at Arlacel 582 (Registered Trade Mark) at Arlacel 581 (Registered Trade Mark) at Triodan R90 (Registered Trade Mark) at Relifier B (Registered Trade Mark) at or Homodan T2 (Registered Trade Mark) at 4 11 Example 6 A lubricant composition was prepared from the following components.

Components Canola 58 Polypropylene glycol ethoxylate [Teric PE61 (Registered Trade Mark)] 1 Polypropylene glycol ethoxylate [Teric PE62 (Registered Trade Mark)] 1 Water 9 Variations on this composition include: 9 Substituting polypropylene glycol ethoxylate [Teric PE61 (Registered Trade Mark)] and polypropylene glycol ethoxylate [Teric PE62 (Registered Trade Mark)] by sulphonated canola at 4%.

t Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the ;20 context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as S"compri;es" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

,if

Claims

2- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A liquid lubricant composition for use in lubricating machinery or equipment which is a water-in-oil emulsion comprising a biodegradable oil; an emulsifier; j greater than 1% water by weight of the total composition; and optionally other additives. 2. A lubricant composition according to Claim 1, wherein the biodegradable oil is a vegetabie oil, an animal oil and/or an ester. t 9
3. A lubricant composition according to Claim 2, wherein the vegetable S, <and/or animal oil is selected from oils based on cotton, groundnut, coconut, linseed, palm kernel, olive, corn, palm, castor, canola, soybean, sunflower, fish and tallow or mixtures thereof.
4. A lubricant composition according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the vegetable oil is canola, the animal oil is tallow and the ester is isopropyl myristate, methyl tallowate, ethyl tallowate, isobutyl tallowate and/or butyl oleate. A lubricant composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of biodegradable oil is 30 to 70% by weight of the total composition.
6. A lubricant composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biodegradable oil contains 30 to 60% vegetable oil and/or animal oil and 0 to 10% ester by weight of the total composition.
7. The lubricant composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the emulsifier is biodegradable. N1 0 ~i
13- 8. A lubricant composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the emulsifier is selected from hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced emulsifiers, silicone based emulsifiers, glycerol esters, ethoxylated alcohols, sorbitan derivatives, lecithin, vegetable oil based emulsifiers, partially re- esterified and oxidatively polymerized vegetable oil, inorganic emulsifiers, greases, alkali metal petroleum sulphonates, calcium chloride and calcium carbonate, and beeswax with borax. 9. A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced emulsifier is selected from sodium lauryl ethoxy sulphate, maleic acid and monoethanol amine, ethoxylated and methyl glucose dioleate. A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the 11. A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the glycerol ester is selected from glycerol mono-oleate, polyglycerol esttr of interesterified riconoleic acid and polyglycerol ester of dimerised soya bean oil. 12. A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the glycol ester is polypropylene glycol ethoxylate. 13. A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the sorbitan derivative is selected from sorbitan mono-oleate, ethoxylated sorbitan mono-oleate, ethoxylated glycerol sorbitan oleostearate, ethoxylated sorbitan isostearate and glycerol sorbitan fatty acid ester.
14. A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the vegetable oil based emulsifier is selected from soya-amine ethoxylate, partially re-esterified and oxidativ y polymerized vegetable oil and sulphonated canola. '4 '4; 4. 0 -14- A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the inorganic emulsifier is selected from zinc resinate, aluminiumn stearate and bentonite.
16. A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the grease is selected from aluminium complex grease, red rubber grease and woolgrease.
17. A lubricant composition according to Claim 8, wherein the 10 alkanoyl amide is alkyl succinimide. oe
18. A lubricant composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the other additives are biodegradable.
19. A lubricant composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the other additives are selected from emulsion stabilizers and anti-wear, anti-weld, anti-corrosive and anti-oxidant additives. t4
20. A lubricant composition according to Claim 19, wherein the emulsion stabilizer is selected from glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerine, sodium gluconate, sugar derivatives and inorganic or organic salts.
21. A lubricant composition according to Claim 20, wherein the sugar derivative is glucose. L 22. A lubricant composition according to Claim 20, wherein the inorganic or organic salt is selected from sodium nitrite, sodium acetate, sodium benzoate, aluminium chloride, sodium gluconate, sodium thiosulfate, urea, sodium citrate, sodium bisulfite, ammonium sulfate and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid tetra-sodium salt. I 'N
23. wherein the 15 A lubricant composition according to any one of Claims 20 to 22, anti-wear and anti-weld additive is triphenyl phosphorothionate. P P 4 *.e.PP 4* P Pap. *4 4t 4± 44 PP
24. A lubricant composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of additive is 0 to 20% by weight of the total composition. A lubricant composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the balance of the lubricant composition is water.
26. A lubricant composition according to Claim 25, wherein the amount of water is 5 to 60% by weight of the total composition.
27. A lubricant composition, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples. DATED this 29th day of July, 1994 Castrol Australia Pty. Limited By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE tenctency to cause aieseilng. bucn ou-in-water emnuisions art; oaseu on minru oils. -I I ABSTRACT Tfhe invention relates to a]I machinery or equipment which co a biodegradable oil; an emulsifier; ubricant composition for use in lubricating mprises water; and optionally other additives. 4 It I I 4 I Fl I 41 4111 4 4 ~#14 144114 F I 44 4 44 II I 44 .4.4 IF 44 4 N4: I-