Protective lubricant formulation and method of use

Abstract

A novel method of preparing metal assemblies for long term storage and instant readiness for use, utilizing a light oil mixture or grease mixture incorporating functionalized and molecularly neutral PFPE fluid and a fluorosolvent.

Claims

1. A method of lubricating and preparing metal assemblies for long-term storage and protection from corrosion by applying a light oil mixture on their surfaces that is comprised of PFPE fluid that has been molecularly functionalized such that its component molecules are attracted to metal surfaces, PFPE fluid that is molecularly neutral, and an evaporable fluorosolvent.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the metal assemblies are firearms and firearm components and the light oil mixture is comprised of one part, by weight, of PFPE fluid that has been molecularly functionalized such that its component molecules are attracted to metal surfaces, eight to ten parts by weight of PFPE fluid that is molecularly neutral, and sixty to one hundred parts, by weight, of an evaporable fluorosolvent.

3. A method of lubricating and preparing metal assemblies for long-term storage and protection from corrosion by applying a grease on their surfaces that is comprised of PFPE fluid that has been functionalized such that its component molecules are attracted to metal surfaces, PTFE particles, and PFPE fluid that is molecularly neutral.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the metal assemblies are firearms and firearm components and the grease is comprised of one part by weight of PFPE fluid that has been functionalized such that its component molecules are attracted to metal surfaces, one to seven parts, by weight, of PTFE particles, said particles averaging two to twenty micro-meters in size, and seven to ten parts by weight of PFPE fluid that is molecularly neutral.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) The preferred embodiments include light oils and greases comprising a PFPE fluid blended with a functionalized or polarized PFPE as corrosion inhibitor, said blend extended in a non-flammable fluorosolvent. Both neutral and functionalized PFPE is commercially available, for example under the trade names KRYTOX, FOMBLIN, GALDEN, and DEMNUM. A common characteristic of the PFPE fluids is the presence of perfluoroalkyl terminal groups.

(2) Fluorosolvent is widely available commercially under various trade names, including VERTREL and NYE FLUOROSOLVENT 504. A preferred embodiment is a fully fluorinated solvent consisting of a chain length of C5 to C18 carbon atoms. Less than C5 and the solvent would be too volatile and higher than C18 and it would be to non-volatile. A preferred solvent is Tribosyn 84113, marketed by Triboscience & Engineering, Inc.

(3) In one preferred embodiment, a light oil is made by blending (by weight) one part of a functionalized PFPE fluid with nine parts of a neutral PFPE fluid, and extending the blend in ninety parts of a non-flammable fluorosolvent. The functionalized PFPE fluid is selected from a viscosity range of 15 to 500 cSt at 40 C.

(4) In a second preferred embodiment, a grease is made by blending (by weight) one part of a functionalized PFPE fluid with nine parts of a neutral PFPE fluid, and thickening the blend by adding one to seven parts of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles, having a primary particle size of less than 20 micros, said particles averaging five microns in size. In a preferred embodiment four to five parts of PTFE are added.

(5) In operation, the inventive formulations provide protection against oxidation and corrosion from exposure to water, salt air, salt water, finger oils, fuming sulfuric acid, chlorine gas, oxygen, solvents, and industrial chemicals that do not react with PFPE molecular structures, which said structures are uniquely non-reactive to many common chemicals. Additionally, the inventive formulations provide lubrication to prevent galling, sticking, jamming, and excessive wear during hard use, as for instance in the extended high-volume use of factory machinery and firearms.

(6) In its preferred embodiment, the inventive formulation may be applied to a firearm prior to storage in, for instance, an environment without humidity control, or in a salt air environment, such as on a naval vessel. Said firearm is thereby maintained in a state of instant readiness.

(7) While the above description contains several embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the invention.

(8) Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.