Hydraulic oil, while playing an important role in enhancing the performance of industrial equipment, can cause corrosion of its parts by way of electrochemical oxidation.
To prevent this from happening, anti-corrosion additives are added to hydraulic oil. For now, the only known additives that provide sufficient protection while tolerating the harsh chemical environment of a phosphate ester base oil are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Due to their high stability, PFAS additives can accumulate at high levels in the air, water, and soil, which has put them under severe regulatory scrutiny.
The goal of this Challenge is to find an equally efficient but more environmentally friendly substitute for PFAS – or an alternative approach to protect industrial equipment from corrosion caused by electrochemical oxidation.
This is a Prize Challenge which requires a written proposal to be submitted. Awards will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposals by the Seeker, followed by experimental validation of a few, most promising, proposals. There will be a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution. The total payout will be $20,000, with at least one award being no smaller than $10,000 and no award being smaller than $2,500. By submitting a proposal, the Solver grants the Seeker a right to use any information included in their proposal.
Awards:- $20,000
Deadline:- 16-01-2024
