Superlubricating graphene and graphene oxide films

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018171251-A1
Application number	US-201815866734-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2018
Priority date	Jul 19, 2012
Publication date	Jun 21, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for forming at least one of graphene and graphene oxide on a substrate and an opposed wear member. The system includes graphene and graphene oxide formed by an exfoliation process or solution processing method to dispose graphene and/or graphene oxide onto a substrate. The system further includes an opposing wear member disposed on another substrate and a gas atmosphere of an inert gas like N 2 , ambient, a humid atmosphere and a water solution.

First claim

1 - 23 . (canceled)

24 . A method of interacting with reduced friction comprising:
providing relative movement between a first surface having disposed thereon graphene oxide flakes and being substantially free of oil with a second surface having a diamond like coating; interacting the first surface with the second surface wherein the coefficient of friction is between 0.15 and 1.0.

25 . The method of claim 24 , further wherein the relative movement including an atmosphere surrounding the solution processed wear member consisting of at least one of ambient, N 2 , Ar and a high vacuum.

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group of a plastic injection mold surface, a gun barrel, a cutting blade and a bearing.

27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the graphene oxide is a film on the first surface.

28 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the graphene oxide is a layer of graphene flakes on the first surface.

29 . A method of forming at least one of graphene and graphene oxide on a substrate, comprising the steps of:
disposing graphene oxide on the substrate substantially free of oil, thereby establishing a low friction wear surface.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein disposing graphene oxide comprises forming a layer of graphene oxide flakes.

31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the layer of graphene flakes is formed by solution processing, chemical exfoliation, or mechanical exfoliation.

32 . The method as defined in claim 29 wherein the step of disposing the solution processed material comprises spraying the liquid containing the at least one of graphene and graphene oxide onto the substrate.

33 . The method of claim 29 , wherein disposing graphene oxide comprises forming a graphene oxide film.

34 . The method as defined in claim 33 , wherein the graphene oxide film is formed by chemical deposition.

35 . The method as defined in claim 29 wherein the substrate is selected from the group of a metal, a transition metal and an insulator.

36 . The method as defined in claim 29 further including the step of providing an opposing wear member against which slides the at least one of graphene and graphene oxide on the substrate.

37 . The method as defined in claim 36 , wherein the opposing wear member comprises diamond like coating (DLC).

38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the DLC is a hydrogenated form of DLC.

39 . The method as defined in claim 29 further comprising positioning the low friction wear surface within a housing and step of providing at least one of ambient air and an inert gas atmosphere disposed around the at least one of graphene and graphene oxide on the substrate and the opposing wear member.

40 . The method as defined in claim 31 wherein the inert gas consists essentially of at least one of N 2 and Ar.

41 . The method as defined in claim 31 wherein the inert gas environment is a high vacuum.

42 . The method as defined in claim 28 wherein the opposing wear member is pre-processed to control surface roughness.

43 . The method as defined in claim 24 wherein the substrate is selected from the group of a plastic injection mold surface, a gun barrel, a cutting blade and a bearing.

Assignees

• Uchicago Argonne Llc

Inventors

• Sumant Anirudha V
• Erdemir Ali
• Choi Junho
• Berman Diana

Classifications

• C10N2080/00

  Special pretreatment of the material to be lubricated, e.g. phosphatising or chromatising of a metal · CPC title

• C10M103/02

  Carbon; Graphite · CPC title

• C10N2030/06

  Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure · CPC title

• C10N2050/02

  dissolved or suspended in a carrier which subsequently evaporates to leave a lubricant coating · CPC title

• C10N2070/00

  Specific manufacturing methods for lubricant compositions · CPC title