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CN-122029263-A - Lubricant composition and method of use thereof

CN122029263ACN 122029263 ACN122029263 ACN 122029263ACN-122029263-A

Abstract

A lubricant composition and method of lubricating a conveyor system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the lubricant composition includes silicone oil and a surfactant. The ratio of silicone oil to surfactant is from about 1 to about 48. The water content of the lubricant composition is from 0 to about 15 weight percent based on the total weight of the lubricant composition.

Inventors

  • K. P. Choudhury
  • U. A. Choudhury
  • P. R. Hand

Assignees

  • 泰华施公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20241017
Priority Date
20231019

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A lubricant composition for a conveyor system comprising: Silicone oil, and A surfactant, wherein the ratio of silicone oil to the surfactant is from about 1 to about 48, and wherein the lubricant composition comprises water in an amount of from 0 to about 15 weight percent, based on the total weight of the lubricant composition.
  2. 2. The lubricant composition of claim 1, wherein the silicone oil comprises predominantly polydimethylsiloxane.
  3. 3. The lubricant composition of claim 2 wherein the silicone oil has a molecular weight of from about 2,000 daltons to about 50,000 daltons.
  4. 4. The lubricant composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant and the ratio of silicone oil to the surfactant is from about 1 to about 24, and wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohol alkoxylates, fatty acid esters, polysorbates, sorbitan esters, and combinations thereof.
  5. 5. The lubricant composition of claim 4, wherein the surfactant comprises an alcohol alkoxylate having from 4 to about 28 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon hydrophobic portion of the surfactant and from about 1 to about 80 hydrophilic units in the hydrophilic portion of the surfactant, wherein the hydrophilic units comprise ethylene oxide units, propylene oxide units, butylene oxide units, and combinations thereof.
  6. 6. The lubricant composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises an anionic surfactant.
  7. 7. The lubricant composition of claim 1, further comprising an antioxidant in an amount of about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent based on the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the antioxidant comprises one or more of an amine compound, a phenolic compound, a thiol compound, a thiophene compound, a thioester compound, a phosphate compound, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
  8. 8. A method of lubricating a conveyor system, the method comprising the steps of: Applying a lubricant composition to a load bearing surface of a conveyor belt, wherein the load bearing surface is configured for supporting an article carried by the conveyor system, wherein the lubricant composition comprises a silicone oil and a surfactant, wherein the ratio of the silicone oil to the surfactant is from about 1 to about 48, and wherein the lubricant composition comprises water in an amount of from 0 to about 15 weight percent based on the total weight of the lubricant composition, and The load bearing surface is washed a plurality of times before reapplying the lubricant composition to the load bearing surface, wherein washing the load bearing surface comprises applying an aqueous composition to the load bearing surface.
  9. 9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising: measuring the coefficient of friction on said load bearing surface, and The lubricant composition is reapplied to the load bearing surface when the coefficient of friction exceeds a COF maximum.
  10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the load bearing surface comprises stainless steel, and wherein the COF maximum value is from about 0.09 to about 0.25.
  11. 11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising: A detergent additive is added to the aqueous composition, wherein the detergent additive comprises an antioxidant.
  12. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant, the ratio of silicone oil to the surfactant is from about 1 to about 24, and wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohol alkoxylates, fatty acid esters, polysorbates, sorbitan esters, and combinations thereof.
  13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the surfactant comprises an alcohol alkoxylate having from 4 to about 28 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon hydrophobic portion of the surfactant and from about 1 to about 80 hydrophilic units in the hydrophilic portion of the surfactant, wherein the hydrophilic units comprise ethylene oxide units, propylene oxide units, butylene oxide units, and combinations thereof.
  14. 14. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising: Measuring the whiteness index of the load bearing surface, wherein whiteness index is determined by rubbing a white substrate against a contact point on the load bearing surface by a distance of about 10cm to about 15 cm while pressing the white substrate against the load bearing surface with a weight of about 5 kg to about 40 kg, and then measuring the visible light reflectance value at the contact point to determine the whiteness index, and When the whiteness index drops below about 41, the load bearing surface is washed.
  15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the load bearing surface is washed at least 6 times before reapplying the lubricant composition to the load bearing surface.
  16. 16. The method of claim 8, wherein the lubricant composition comprises an antioxidant in an amount of about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent, based on the total weight of the lubricant composition.
  17. 17. The method of claim 8, wherein the aqueous composition comprises an antioxidant in an amount of about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, the aqueous composition comprises a chelating agent in an amount of about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, and wherein the aqueous composition optionally comprises a reducing agent in an amount of 0 to about 20 weight percent based on the total weight of the aqueous composition.
  18. 18. A method of lubricating a conveyor system, the method comprising the steps of: Applying a lubricant composition to a load bearing surface of a conveyor system, wherein the load bearing surface is configured for supporting an article carried by the conveyor system, wherein the lubricant composition comprises a polyether silicone oil, and wherein the lubricant composition comprises water in an amount of 0 to about 48 weight percent based on the total weight of the lubricant composition, and The load bearing surface is washed a plurality of times with an aqueous composition before reapplying the lubricant composition to the load bearing surface.
  19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the polyether silicone oil comprises predominantly polyether modified trisiloxanes.
  20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the lubricant composition further comprises polydimethylsiloxane.

Description

Lubricant composition and method of use thereof The present application claims the benefit of indian provisional application No. 2023 2107 1435 filed on day 2023, 10, 19, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to oil-based lubricant compositions and methods of lubricating surfaces, particularly during transport of container conveyors. Background During commercial container filling or packaging operations, containers are moved from place to place at high speed by the conveyor belt of a conveyor system. This results in friction between the container contacting surface of the conveyor belt and the container surface. A lubricant is typically applied to the conveyor belt to reduce friction between the surfaces and ensure good sliding contact. Conventionally, wet lubrication processes have been used to solve the friction problem. Fatty acid-based or fatty amine-based lubricant compositions are commonly used in wet lubrication processes. The lubricant composition is diluted with water (e.g., a dilution ratio of about 1:100 to about 1:1000) to form an aqueous wet lubricant solution prior to use in a wet lubrication process. A large amount of this aqueous wet lubricant solution must be continuously applied to the conveyor belt to ensure proper high speed conveyor operation. During the wet lubrication process, a large amount of aqueous wet lubricant solution flows down the conveyor belt, resulting in wet skid of the ground, which may pose a hazard to operators working in nearby environments. In addition, this results in waste of chemicals and large amounts of water that must be disposed of or recycled. Thus, the wet lubrication process consumes a great deal of operating costs and energy costs. Dry lubrication processes have been used to address the shortcomings of the wet lubrication processes described above. Silicone-based compositions are commonly used as dry lubricant compositions for dry lubrication processes. The dry lubricant composition typically contains less than about 48% by weight water and is applied to the surface of the conveyor belt and/or container without dilution. Thus, the dry lubrication process uses significantly less water than the wet lubrication process and results in lower operating and energy costs. One problem with dry lubrication processes is the creation of "black" or dark colored materials on the conveyor belt. Blackening tends to transfer to objects on the conveyor belt, resulting in unsightly stains or marks. In some cases, the conveyor belt may be shut down periodically to clean the conveyor belt, which results in extended production time and increased labor costs. There remains a need for a lubricant composition and dry lubrication method that provides excellent lubricity and minimizes blackening problems, while also consuming low levels of water and energy, and also reducing operating costs, as compared to conventional wet lubrication methods. Disclosure of Invention A lubricant composition and method of lubricating a conveyor system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a lubricant composition includes a silicone oil and a surfactant. The ratio of silicone oil to surfactant is from about 1 to about 48. The water content of the lubricant composition is from 0 to about 15 weight percent based on the total weight of the lubricant composition. In another embodiment, a method of lubricating a conveyor system is provided. The method includes applying a lubricant composition to a load bearing surface of a conveyor system, wherein the load bearing surface is configured to support an article carried by the conveyor system. The lubricant composition includes a silicone oil and a surfactant, wherein the ratio of the silicone oil to the surfactant is from about 1 to about 48. The lubricant composition comprises water in an amount of 0 to about 15 weight percent based on the total weight of the lubricant composition. The load bearing surface is washed a plurality of times before reapplying the lubricant composition to the load bearing surface, wherein washing the load bearing surface comprises applying an aqueous composition to the load bearing surface. In yet another embodiment, a method of lubricating a conveyor system is provided. The method includes applying a lubricant composition to a load bearing surface of a conveyor system, wherein the load bearing surface is configured to support an article carried by the conveyor system. The lubricant composition includes a polyether silicone oil and includes water in an amount of 0 to about 48 wt% based on the total weight of the lubricant composition. The load bearing surface is washed a plurality of times with an aqueous composition before reapplying the lubricant composition to the load bearing surface. Drawings The subject matter may be more completely understood by reference to the detailed description and claims in connection with the following drawings. FIG. 1 is a sche