ILMA Compoundings - October 2018 - 23

RESEARCHERS IN US AND CHINA WORKING ON GRAPHENE-ENHANCED
SOLID LUBRICANT
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory
have discovered that a few layers of graphene reduce friction in steel rubbing
against steel by seven times and the wear by 10,000 times. They claim the new
lubricant is more cost effective to apply than conventional solid lubricant coatings as no machinery is required for the application. Instead, graphene can coat
parts of any shape or size by merely being sprayed in the air. Meanwhile, halfway
around the world in China, the Technical Standards Development and Application Demonstration Base of Graphene-Modified Lubricant was launched at
LiuGong's Global R&D Centre in Liuzhou. The center was co-built by the China
Innovation Alliance of the Graphene Industry and Guangxi Liugong Machinery,
and it marks the first base in China that concentrates on the transformation of
graphene's scientific research into real-world applications.
SOLID LUBRICANT COATING WINS NASA'S INVENTION OF THE YEAR
Engineers at NASA's Glenn Research Center have invented a new solid lubricant
coating called PS/PM400, a self-lubricating alloy material developed for coating superalloys. This new alloy, which was named NASA's 2018 Government
and Commercial Invention of the Year, performs in temperatures ranging from
approximately negative 150 degrees Celsius to greater than 900 degrees Celsius. Glenn licensed the technology to ADMA and Hohman Plating; both are
developing the technology for the automotive industry in applications such as
exhaust-system parts and gas recirculation valves. Other licensees are working
with unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers, large equipment manufacturers and
companies needing a high-performing material.
NAM BACKS HOUSE HEALTH CARE REFORMS
"These important reforms will help make quality, affordable health care more
accessible for manufacturers, manufacturing workers, and all Americans," National
Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President of Infrastructure, Innovation
and Human Resources Policy Robyn Boerstling said recently in reference to the
passage of H.R. 6199, the Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing
Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018, and H.R. 6311, the Increasing Access to
Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018.
Boerstling added, "Manufacturers urge the Senate to take up these important
reforms, along with the House-passed repeal of the Medical Device Tax, to
provide manufacturers and manufacturing workers more certainty and relief."
WHAT WAS OLD IS NEW, BUT THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR SHARKS
During the 18th century, a common industrial lubricant was squalene, which
comes from the oil found in the livers of sharks. We've come a long way since
then, and you won't find squalene being used in industrial applications today.
Unfortunately for sharks, squalene is used in the cosmetics industry as a base for
modern cosmetics or as an emollient in lotions and moisturizers. The Personal
Care Council's Cosmetic Ingredient Review says that it has been this way for more
than 25 years. In fact, the French ocean conservation nonprofit BLOOM says that
about 90 percent of shark squalene produced is sold to producers of cosmetics. It's
good to know the lubricants industry was far ahead of the times in this respect.

INDUSTRY RUNDOWN

In the Know

ILMA Compoundings - October 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ILMA Compoundings - October 2018