Increase the life of Engines, Pumps, Planes and Space Crafts.
That spot of oil on your garage floor hints at engine trouble. It’s minor, so you delay a mechanic visit until new noises and an oil pressure warning light signal a serious issue. The culprit? A crankshaft bearing, now elliptical due to wear. Such wear, caused by friction, is common in machinery with moving parts. Lubricants can only minimize this damage temporarily. Pavlo “Pasha” Rudenko, a Washington State University PhD candidate, envisioned using smart nanoparticles to repair worn parts, potentially reversing the damage.
NASA found this idea intriguing. In 2011, they awarded Rudenko a fellowship through the Washington Space Grant Consortium to explore this nanotechnology application. Since 1989, NASA’s Space Grant has fostered advancements in science, pushing new research boundaries. Rudenko’s work fell into tribology—the study of friction, lubrication, and wear.
Moving parts in machinery inevitably experience friction and wear, despite lubricants’ efforts to reduce it. Traditional lubricants, often oil-based with various additives, aim to maximize efficiency, remove debris, and enhance stability. Rudenko’s research began in 2009 with improving these lubricants, supported by a grant from the Hydropower Research Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. His NASA fellowship aimed to create a nanoparticle lubricant effective even in space’s extreme conditions.
Rudenko’s approach used a liquid lubricant to deliver nanoparticles directly to friction points, ideal for satellites and space vehicles, extending their operational life. His research identified a durable, nontoxic ceramic material as the best nanoparticle. However, it was expensive to produce. NASA’s feedback was positive but noted the lengthy qualification process for space use. Thus, Rudenko turned to the private sector to advance his research.
Technology Transfer
Rudenko founded TriboTEX LLC in 2013, seeking further funding for nanoparticle production. Support from Singularity University, through a Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Ames Research Center, helped the startup. Two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the National Science Foundation enabled scaling nanoparticle production.
The developed material, called nano-flakes, has a sticky side that adheres to friction points, with the smooth side reducing friction. These flakes build up layers, smoothing rough spots much like filling potholes. Heat and pressure bond the flakes, creating a new, durable surface Rudenko calls “diamond-like.”
Even seemingly smooth metal surfaces have microscopic imperfections causing friction. TriboTEX’s first formula targeted these imperfections in automobile engines.
Benefits
With a refined product formula, scalable manufacturing, and a marketing strategy, Rudenko launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2017. He raised over half a million dollars, earning the Indiegogo Innovative Product of 2018 award. Over a decade of development, TriboTEX garnered numerous awards and recognition.
Today, over 30,000 vehicles use TriboTEX, with drivers reporting improved gas mileage, increased torque, and higher oil pressure. In cars with over 130,000 miles, fuel economy can improve by up to 6%, and engine power can increase by up to 3%. Adding TriboTEX every 40,000 miles ensures continued repair of friction-induced wear.
Responding to consumer feedback, TriboTEX now offers products for motorcycles, lawn mowers, generators, and compact cars. High-performance formulas cater to diesel trucks and sports cars, with a “big rig” version for semi-tractor trailers. A national trucking company is testing TriboTEX in its fleet.
Expanding beyond automobiles, TriboTEX is exploring aviation applications. With a Phase I SBIR contract from the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX program, they are developing a formula for aviation gearboxes. If successful, Phase II funding will enable testing in Air Force aircraft, bringing Rudenko’s vision closer to reality.
“NASA’s support was crucial in reaching this point,” says Rudenko. Repairing instead of replacing engine parts could save consumers millions annually in parts and labor. Based in Colfax, Washington, TriboTEX LLC offers a nanoparticle lubricant that repairs friction-induced wear, benefiting over 30,000 vehicles with increased oil pressure, improved gas mileage, and increased torque.
Easy Application and Future Prospects
Consumers can easily add TriboTEX to a warmed-up engine, where it begins repairing damage over time. The company offers products for various engine types, from high-performance sports cars to small engines in lawn mowers and generators.
Under an electron microscope, TriboTEX nanoparticles reveal their sticky side, which attaches to friction points, and their smooth side, which reduces friction. These nanoparticles build up and smooth out rough spots, creating a durable new surface.
TriboTEX continues to innovate, with potential applications in aviation and beyond, fueled by Rudenko’s vision and NASA’s foundational support.
Learn more at spinoff.nasa.gov