Advantages and Applications of Solid Lubricants

By AZoM

Table of Contents

Introduction
Types and Characteristics of Solid Lubricants
Product Selection by Ingredients
Performance Improvement with Different Combinations
About Dow Corning

Introduction

Solid lubricants can be utilized as free-flowing powders, as additives in some oils and
greases, and as key ingredients in high-performance anti-friction coatings and anti-seize
pastes. These special lubricant additives and powders fill in and level surface asperity
valleys and peaks thanks to their adherence to the substrate and coherence between
them. The solids deliver efficient boundary lubrication, improving friction and minimizing
wear under extreme operating environments. Contrary to grease or oil fluid films for
hydrodynamic lubrication, boundary films created by solid lubricants are capable of
maintaining a uniform thickness irrespective of speed, temperature and load.

Types and Characteristics of Solid Lubricants

Solid lubricants are available in various compositions with different properties. This
application note describes the common types of solid lubricants utilized in Molykote
brand anti-friction coatings and anti-seize pastes.

Copper is a soft metal with high plasticity and low shear strength, providing it good
lubricating capabilities.
Benefits of soft-metal solid lubricants include:

High-temperature stability
High load-carrying capacity

However, they cannot be utilized with stainless steel at temperatures more than 1,000
C due to the chance for galvanic corrosion.

Graphite with a layered lattice structure and weak bonding between layers delivers
superior lubricity as long as the presence of moisture.
Benefits of graphite solids include:

Good lubrication in high humidity

Protection against fretting corrosion
High-temperature stability
Low coefficient of friction under high loads

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) comprises carbon and fluorine atoms and is recognized as

one of the most slippery manmade materials due to its low surface tension.
Advantages of PTFE solids include:

Good sliding-friction reduction

Good chemical resistance
Low load-carrying capacity
Low coefficient of friction at low loads
Colorless film lubricity

Molybdenum disulfide with a lamellar structure can be sheared easily in the motion
direction. It is possible to match particle size and film thickness to match surface
roughness.
Benefits of molybdenum disulfide solid lubricants include

Excellent adhesion
Wide service-temperature range
Protection against fretting corrosion
Decreased friction with increasing loads
Stick-slip prevention
High load-carrying capacity

Molybdenum disulfide solid lubricants cannot be utilized in wet conditions as moisture

increases friction.

White solids are different types of inorganic compounds and capable of forming a
reactive lubricating layer for better wear protection.
Other advantages of white solids include

Resistance to high temperatures

Good protection against fretting corrosion

Product Selection by Ingredients

Normally, anti-friction coatings will comprise around 30% solids blended with a resin
binder and solvent carrier, while anti-seize pastes will consist of 40% to 60% solids in a
base-oil carrier. Oils and greases may contain up to 10% of solids for lubrication during
shock-load, start-up and shutdown conditions.
Solid lubricants such as graphite and molybdenum disulfide normally demonstrate higher
load-carrying capacity of up to 1,000 N/mm 2. They can play a role in preventing cold-
welding and galling and are capable of providing lifetime lubrication under dirty and
dusty conditions.

Although the load-carrying capacity of PTFE is on the lower side (up to250 N/mm2), it
facilitates achieving a low coefficient of friction in sliding-load conditions. Metal pastes
can be utilized as anti-seize compounds on threaded connections. Metal-free white
pastes are ideal option for extreme heat applications and for preventing stress-corrosion
cracking and solder embrittlement.

Performance Improvement with Different Combinations

It is possible to combine different types of solid lubricants in a coating or paste
formulation to deliver certain synergistic results such as improved fretting-corrosion
protection, optimal friction control and wear prevention, and increased load-carrying
capacity. The advantages of using different combinations of solid lubricants are better
than that of individual solid lubricants.

About Dow Corning

Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of

more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based
technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services
through the Dow Corning and XIAMETER brands. Dow Corning is equally owned by The
Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Cornings
annual sales are outside the United States.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by
Dow Corning.

For more information on this source, please visit Dow Corning.

Date Added: Jan 11, 2013 | Updated: Jun 11, 2013