A method for improving wear control, while maintaining or improving energy efficiency, in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with a lubricating oil, by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil includes at least one lubricating oil base stock having one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula:

R1-(A).sub.m-Y(B).sub.nR2

wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon, alkoxy or alkylthio group having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, CH2-CH2-, CHCH, OCOO, CO, CSO, CSS, CS, O, S, SO, SO2-, CH2O, OCH2O, NO, ONO2, or CN; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricating oil base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 200 cSt at 40 C., and 1 cSt to 25 cSt at 100 C. Also, this disclosure relates to low traction/energy efficient liquid crystal base stocks containing liquid crystals.

A method for improving wear control, while maintaining or improving energy efficiency, in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with a lubricating oil, by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil includes at least one lubricating oil base stock having one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula:

R1-(A).sub.m-Y(B).sub.nR2

wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon, alkoxy or alkylthio group having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, CH2-CH2-, CHCH, OCOO, CO, CSO, CSS, CS, O, S, SO, SO2-, CH2O, OCH2O, NO, ONO2, or CN; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricating oil base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 200 cSt at 40 C., and 1 cSt to 25 cSt at 100 C. Also, this disclosure relates to low traction/energy efficient liquid crystal base stocks containing liquid crystals.

A composition for enhanced heat transfer fluid performance. The composition includes at least one base heat transfer fluid. The at least one base heat transfer fluid undergoes one or more phase changes in a heat transfer process. The heat transfer process includes a heated zone and/or a cooled zone. The one or more phase changes increase heat removal from the heated zone and/or increase heat rejection in the cooled zone, as compared to heat removal from a heated zone and/or heat rejection in a cooled zone of a heat transfer process having a base heat transfer fluid that does not undergo one or more phase changes. The base heat transfer fluids can exhibit liquid crystal behavior (e.g., heat transfer fluids having nematic, smectic or discotic liquid crystals). A method for conducting heat transfer in a heating and/or cooling system using the compositions comprising the base heat transfer fluids.

A composition for enhanced heat transfer fluid performance. The composition includes at least one base heat transfer fluid. The at least one base heat transfer fluid undergoes one or more phase changes in a heat transfer process. The heat transfer process includes a heated zone and/or a cooled zone. The one or more phase changes increase heat removal from the heated zone and/or increase heat rejection in the cooled zone, as compared to heat removal from a heated zone and/or heat rejection in a cooled zone of a heat transfer process having a base heat transfer fluid that does not undergo one or more phase changes. The base heat transfer fluids can exhibit liquid crystal behavior (e.g., heat transfer fluids having nematic, smectic or discotic liquid crystals). A method for conducting heat transfer in a heating and/or cooling system using the compositions comprising the base heat transfer fluids.

A method for improving friction and wear control, while maintaining or improving energy efficiency, in an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with a lubricating oil, by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil. The formulated oil has a composition including at least one lubricating oil base stock. The at least one lubricating oil base stock includes one or more liquid crystals, wherein the one or more liquid crystals are represented by the formula:

A(R1).sub.n

wherein A is a mono-ring or a multi-ring aromatic group, R1 is the same or different and is a substituted or unsubstituted, hydrocarbon, alkoxy, or alkylthio group having from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, and n is a value from 1 to 12. The lubricating oil base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 200 cSt at 40 C., as determined according to ASTM D445, and a kinematic viscosity of 1 cSt to 25 cSt at 100 C., as determined according to ASTM D445.

Provided is a lubricant base stock, a lubricating oil including the lubricant base stock and a method for improving viscosity temperature performance or viscosity index of an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with the lubricating oil. The lubricant base stock includes one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula:

R1-(A).sub.m-Y(B).sub.nR2

wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl or alkoxy group having from 0 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, CH2-CH2-, CHCH, CC, OCOO, COO, CO, CSO, CSS, CS, O, S, SO, SO2-, CH2O, OCH2O, NO, ONO2, COOH, OH, or CN; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 28 cSt at 40 C., and 1 cSt to 12 cSt at 100 C.

A low-friction coating includes: an aliphatic hydrocarbon group showing a peak in a region of 2,900 cm.sup.1 to 3000 cm.sup.1 in an infrared absorption spectrum; a carbonyl group showing a peak in a region of 1,650 cm.sup.1 to 1,800 cm.sup.1 in an infrared absorption spectrum; an aromatic component (C.sub.7H.sub.7.sup.+) showing a peak at mass 91.1 in a positive ion spectrum obtained by TOF-SIMS; and a condensed ring based component (C.sub.9H.sub.7.sup.+) showing a peak at mass 115.2 in the positive ion spectrum obtained by TOF-SIMS.

A low-friction coating includes: an aliphatic hydrocarbon group showing a peak in a region of 2,900 cm.sup.1 to 3000 cm.sup.1 in an infrared absorption spectrum; a carbonyl group showing a peak in a region of 1,650 cm.sup.1 to 1,800 cm.sup.1 in an infrared absorption spectrum; an aromatic component (C.sub.7H.sub.7.sup.+) showing a peak at mass 91.1 in a positive ion spectrum obtained by TOF-SIMS; and a condensed ring based component (C.sub.9H.sub.7.sup.+) showing a peak at mass 115.2 in the positive ion spectrum obtained by TOF-SIMS.

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a tetrafluoropropene and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.

The present invention relates to compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems wherein the composition comprises a tetrafluoropropene and at least one other component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in processes for producing cooling or heat, as heat transfer fluids, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and fire suppression and fire extinguishing agents.