The patented Boron-CLS-Bond® is a biodegradable lubrication technology designed for the latest mechanical advances in precision engineering. The technology platform was originally discovered and patented by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory of Argonne, Illinois, operated by the University of Chicago. In 1991, it was awarded the prestigious R&D 100 award for what has become Boron-CLS-Bond® technology.

Boron-CLS-Bond® technology is based on using molecular boric acid to form a solid boundary-layer component, which is synergistic with the hydraulic (fluid) lubricant delivery and/or dispersal vehicle. In the presence of oxygen and moisture, boric acid reacts with metal via covalent bonds to form approximately a 20-nanometer surface of metallic boric oxide that is 85% hardness of diamond (Rockwell 85).

In the presence of oxygen and free boric acid, the metallic boric oxide surface spontaneously produces more boric acid, the molecules of which form a macromolecular bond to form a crystalline lattice of platelets. The boundary layer of platelets is approximately 100 to 400 nanometers thick. These platelets align themselves parallel to the metal surface and conform to the direction of movement – like a loosely dispersed deck of playing cards.

Each Boron-CLS-Bond® platelet has strong macromolecular bond. Only weak Van der Waals forces attract the platelets to each other, allowing virtually frictionless platelet-to-platelet interaction. These double boron boundaries translate to an extremely low-friction coefficient (under 0.01 percent) between the platelets separating metal surfaces and with negligible wear on the metal surfaces they separate.

Product and application specific solutions have been tested extensively in independent laboratories, universities, research centres and in the field worldwide. The benefits of Boron-CLS-Bond® products have been documented in test after test.