In collaboration with its industrial partners, ISL will continue to develop IonoGlide lubricants for NASA-specific applications ranging from Mars rovers to use in robotic arms for extravehicular missions. A potential operational limitation of remote robotic systems is lubrication failure at low temperature. IonoGlide lubricants promise continuing mission-critical performance in the harsh Martian environment. Preliminary results of ISL's lubrication technology indicate potential for dependable and prolonged performance in such extreme environments.
According to a March 2010 Freedonia Focus report, synthetic lubricants and functional fluid demand in the United States is expected to be $4.8 billion by 2013 and grow by 3.2% per year. Synthetic engine oil is seen as a $2.6 billion market by 2013 with annual gains of 7.3% since 2008. The need for higher-performing engine oils drives this market. For the vehicle and equipment market, synthetic engine oils along with hydraulic and transmission fluids will drive an expected $4 billion in demand by 2013. According to the same report, the market for heat transfer fluids increased 6.8% between 2003 and 2008 to a value of $1.3 billion. This is the niche within which NASA applications fall. Heat transfer fluids are used in antifreeze, energy production, asphalt, laun¿dry, biotechnology, metalworking, mining, process manufacturing, and refrigeration and heating systems. In the commercial arena, variants of IonoGlide will find uses in aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, synthesis, engineering fluids, and marine sectors.
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