Abstract: There is provided a grease composition, including: a base oil; a metal soap thickener formed of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lithium, calcium, magnesium and aluminum and a fatty acid containing at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group and a carboxylic acid metal salt group in each molecular structure; and nanoparticles formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of oxides, carbides and diamond materials.

Abstract: [Object] A low friction assembly is desired. [Solving Means] The present invention relates to a new low-friction lubrication assembly comprising a first member relatively slidable against a second member, the first member having chemical affinity with an OH-group on its sliding surface; and one or more oxygen containing compounds, provided on the sliding surface of the first member and being able to produce a tribofilm attached to the sliding surface of the first member through hydrogen bond interactions. Preferably the second member comprises a similar OH-terminated sliding surface wherein an oxygen containing compound (lubricant)-supported interface between the first and second sliding surfaces results in a H- and/or OH-terminated interface developing repulsive forces thereinbetween.

Abstract: The invention provides a low-friction sliding mechanism, a low-friction agent composition, a friction reduction method, a manual transmission and a final reduction gear unit that can exert very excellent low friction characteristics to sliding surfaces present under various applications, and, in particular, that have more excellent low friction characteristics than that of a combination of an existing steel material and an organic Mo compound. The low-friction sliding mechanism has an oxygen-containing organic compound or an aliphatic amine compound interposed between sliding surfaces that a DLC coated sliding member and a sliding member form. The low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound or an aliphatic amine compound. The friction reduction method includes supplying the low-friction agent composition between sliding surfaces that a DLC coated sliding member and a sliding member form.

Abstract: A low-friction sliding mechanism includes first and second sliding members having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other and a lubricant applied to the sliding surfaces of the first and second sliding members. At least the sliding surface of the first sliding member is made of a diamond-like carbon material, and at least the sliding surface of the second sliding member is made of either an aluminum-based alloy material, a magnesium-based alloy material or a diamond-like carbon material. The lubricant contains a base oil and at least one of an ashless fatty-ester friction modifier and an ashless aliphatic-amine friction modifier.

Abstract: There is provided a grease composition, including: a base oil; a metal soap thickener formed of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lithium, calcium, magnesium and aluminum and a fatty acid containing at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group and a carboxylic acid metal salt group in each molecular structure; and nanoparticles formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of oxides, carbides and diamond materials.

Abstract: An oil ring Ro for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes at least one selected from the group consisting of hard carbon, CrN and TiN that covers an outer periphery 1 of the oil ring. A radius of curvature R at an outermost portion T of the oil ring in a sliding direction is 0.3 mm or more.

Abstract: A low-friction sliding mechanism includes first and second sliding members having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other and a lubricant applied to the sliding surfaces of the first and second sliding members. At least the sliding surface of the first sliding member is made of a diamond-like carbon material, and at least the sliding surface of the second sliding member is made of either an aluminum-based alloy material, a magnesium-based alloy material or a diamond-like carbon material. The lubricant contains a base oil and at least one of an ashless fatty-ester friction modifier and an ashless aliphatic-amine friction modifier.

Abstract: A sliding device includes a sliding bearing, and a shaft which is rotatable and in slidable contact with the sliding bearing in presence of a lubricating oil. The sliding bearing has a surface hardness smaller than a surface hardness of the shaft. Additionally, the sliding bearing has a surface roughness Ra of not larger than 0.2 micrometer, and the shaft has a surface roughness of not larger than 0.05 micrometer.

Abstract: A low-friction sliding member such as a piston, a piston ring, a piston skirt section and a cylinder liner section of an internal combustion engine. The low-friction sliding member includes a base material having a surface. A hard carbon thin film is formed at at least a part of the surface of the base material. Here, a tribo-film having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of ether linkage, oxido and hydroxyl group is formed on the hard carbon thin film when the hard carbon thin film is in slidable contact with an opposite member in presence of an organic oxygen-containing compound.

Abstract: A member for an internal combustion engine, such as a piston, a valve and a fuel injection valve. The member includes a substrate. A carbon-based coating film is formed on the substrate to cover at least a part of a region of the substrate to which region fuel for the internal combustion engine is contactable. The carbon-based coating film contains fluorine and has a thickness of 10 ?m or less.

Abstract: A chain drive system includes a drive sprocket, a driven sprocket and a chain looped over the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket. The chain and the sprocket having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other in the presence of lubricating oil, and any adjacent chain components of the chain having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other in the presence of lubricating oil. At least one of the sliding surfaces between the chain and the sprocket and at least one of the sliding surfaces between any adjacent chain components have hard carbon coatings formed on base portions thereof. Each of the hard carbon coatings has a hydrogen content of 10 atomic % or less.

Abstract: [Object] A low friction assembly is desired. [Solving Means] The present invention relates to a new low-friction lubrication assembly comprising a first member relatively slidable against a second member, the first member having chemical affinity with an OH-group on its sliding surface; and one or more oxygen containing compounds, provided on the sliding surface of the first member and being able to produce a tribofilm attached to the sliding surface of the first member through hydrogen bond interactions. Preferably the second member comprises a similar OH-terminated sliding surface wherein an oxygen containing compound (lubricant)-supported interface between the first and second sliding surfaces results in a H- and/or OH-terminated interface developing repulsive forces thereinbetween.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve for an automotive internal combustion engine comprises a needle valve and an opposite member which are in slidable contact with each other in presence of fuel. A hard carbon thin film is coated on at least one of the sliding sections of the base materials of the needle valve and the opposite member. The hard carbon thin film has a surface hardness ranging from 1500 to 4500 kg/mm2 in Knoop hardness, a film thickness ranging from 0.3 to 2.0 ?m, and a surface roughness (Ry) (?m) which satisfies a relationship represented by the following formula (A): Ry<(0.75?Hk/8000)×h+0.0875??(A) where h is the thickness (?m) of the hard carbon thin film; Hk is the surface hardness in Knoop hardness (kg/mm2) of the hard carbon thin film.

Abstract: There is provided a sliding member including a base body and a hard carbon coating formed on the base body to define a sliding surface for sliding contact with an opposing member under lubrication according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hard carbon coating has an outermost surface portion lower in hydrogen content than a remaining portion thereof, or an outermost coating layer lower in hydrogen content than at least one other coating layer.

Abstract: To provide a nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition which demonstrates a low friction coefficient and realizes a further fuel economy. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an additive having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an ashless friction modifier having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an additive having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle having a particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an ashless friction modifier having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle having a particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition which demonstrates a low friction coefficient and realizes a further fuel economy. [Solving Means] A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an additive having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an ashless friction modifier having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an additive having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle having a particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm. A nanoparticle-containing lubricating oil composition comprising a base oil, an ashless friction modifier having hydroxyl group, and nanoparticle having a particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm.

Abstract: There is provided a sliding member including a base body and a hard carbon coating formed on the base body to define a sliding surface for sliding contact with an opposing member under lubrication according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hard carbon coating has an outermost surface portion lower in hydrogen content than a remaining portion thereof, or an outermost coating layer lower in hydrogen content than at least one other coating layer.

Abstract: A lubricant composition applicable to a sliding section or sliding member of an automotive internal combustion engine or power transmission apparatus to significantly lower a friction coefficient. The lubricant composition contains a base oil for a lubricating oil, an oxygen-containing organic compound, a diamond nano-particle and a dispersant for the diamond nano-particle.

Abstract: A low friction sliding combination of a cam and a cam follower which are in slidable contact with each other in presence of a lubricating oil. The cam follower includes a cylindrical and hollow outer roller having an outer peripheral surface in slidable contact with the cam. A fixed pin is coaxially disposed inside the outer roller and rotatably movable relative to the outer roller. A diamond-like carbon material is coated on a sliding surface of at least one of the outer roller and the fixed pin. The lubricating oil contains at least one of ashless fatty acid ester friction modifier and ashless aliphatic amine friction modifier.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. The piston has a piston ring and a piston skirt section each of which has a sliding section in slidable contact with a cylinder bore section of a cylinder block in presence of a lubricating oil. The cylinder bore section is formed of eutectic or hyper-eutectic aluminum alloy. Additionally, a hard carbon thin film is coated on the sliding section of the piston and contains hydrogen atom in an amount of not more than 1 atomic %. Here, the lubricating oil contains at least one selected from the group consisting of ashless fatty acid ester friction modifier, ashless aliphatic amine friction modifier, polybutenyl succinimide, derivative of polybutenyl succinimide, zinc dithiophosphate, and derivative of zinc dithiophosphate.