SOLID LUBRICANTS

i.
ii.

iii.
iv.

Operating conditions and load is too high

Where contamination of lubricating oil or
greases is unacceptable.
Combustible lubricants must be avoided
Operating condition are such that a
lubricating film cannot be secured by use
of oils or greases.

Graphite

Graphite is most widely used solid lubricant

Graphite is structurally composed of planes of
polycyclic carbon atoms that are hexagonal in
orientation.
Water vapor is a necessary component for
graphite lubrication.
Graphite is effective at high temperatures up to
450C continuously and can withstand much
higher temperature peaks.
The adsorption of water reduces the bonding
energy between the hexagonal planes of the
graphite to a lower level than the adhesion
energy between a substrate and the graphite.

GRAPHITE

Structure of graphite

Merits and Demerits

Merits
Good lubrication in
high humidity
Protection against
fretting corrosion
High-temperature
stability
Low coefficient of
friction under high
loads

Demerits
Graphite in the
powdered form may
not be suitable for
certain metals as it
may cause corrosion.
Cause stains on the
object which is
lubricated.
Graphite is not
effective in vacuum.

Applications

Graphite blends and pure graphite dry film

lubricant systems are commonly used in
applications such as hot and cold forming, wire
drawing and billet coatings.
On high-speed cutting tools; as a mold release for
die cast, plastic and rubber mold applications
Cylinder head and exhaust bolts
Ammunition and armament applications
Automotive engine and many common industrial
applications.

Molybdenum disulfide

Each Mo(IV) center occupies

atrigonal
prismaticcoordination
spherethat is bound to six
sulfideatoms.
Each sulfur center is
pyramidal and is connected
to three Mo centers.
Because of the weakvan
der Waalsinteractions
between the sulfide atom
sheet,MoS2has a
lowcoefficient of friction

Characteristics

MoS2with particle sizes in the range of 1100m

is a commondry lubricant.
MoS2lubrication performance often exceeds that
of graphite and is effective in vacuum as well.
MoS2 lubrication is limited by oxidation.
Large particles may result in excessive wear by
abrasion caused by impurities in the MoS2
Small particles may result in accelerated
oxidation.

Merits and Demerits

Merits
It does not rely on water
vapor for lubrication
Thermal stability in non
oxidizing atmosphere is
acceptable up to 1100C
Greater load carrying
capacity
Manufacturing quality
control is better.

Demerits
In oxidizing
atmosphere the
temperature stability
is only 400C.
There is risk of solid
particles
agglomerating or
sedimenting out and
probability of increase
in torque, noise and
friction wear.

Applications

MoS2 is often used in two stroke engines e.g.,

motorcycle
It is also used in commercial vehicles and
universal joints.
MoS2coatingsallow bullets easier passage
through the rifle barrel causing less barrel fouling.
MoS2 is also used in ski wax to prevent static
buildup in dry snow conditions.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Boron nitride is a ceramic

powder lubricant.
The crystal lattice of
consists of hexagonal rings
forming thin parallel planes.
Atoms of B andN
arecovalently bondedto
other atoms in the plane
with the angle 120
between two bonds
The planes are bonded to
each other by weak Van der
Waals forces.

Characteristics

Weak bonding between the planes provides low

shear strength in the direction of the sliding
movement but high compression strength in the
direction perpendicular to it.
The anisotropy of the mechanical
propertiesimparts the combination of low
coefficient of friction and high carrying load
capacity.
Boron nitride forms a lubrication film
stronglyadheredto the substrate surface. The
lubrication film provides goodwear resistance.

Merits of using hBN

Moist atmosphere is not required for

lubrication
Boron nitride is chemically inert substance.
Thermally more stable as compared to
graphite and MoS2
High load carrying capacity and low co
efficient of friction.
High thermal conductivity.
Good wear resistance.

Applications

Additives in lubricating oils

Components ofpolymer based composite antifriction coatings
Second phase particles ofmetal based
composite anti-friction coatings
Solid lubricant inmetal forming
Release coatings and non-sticking refractory
linings infoundry
Sinteredceramic parts for high temperature
applications

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Themonomermolecul
es
(tetrafluoroethylene)
have the
structureF2C=CF2.

Carbon chain
surrounded by fluorine
atoms forming a linear
repeating structureCF2-CF2-CF2-

Characteristics

Due to very weak bonding , the may slide easily

along each other at low shear stresses.
PTFE is capable to withstand relatively high
compression strength in the direction
perpendicular to the sliding movement.
Coefficient of friction of PTFE is lowest of all solid
lubricants.
Coefficient of friction of PTFE does not depend on
the environment.

Merits and Demerits

Merits
Its lubricating
properties is not
affected by the
environment.
It has the lowest co
efficient of friction.
It is chemically inert.

Demerits
low melting point
low thermal
conductivity
relatively low load
carrying capacity (as
compared to boron
nitride, molybdenum
disulfide and graphite)

Solid lubricant application

techniques
There are four main techniques in which the
solid lubricants are applied to the moving
parts.
Spraying/dipping/brushing
Free powders
AF-coatings
Composites

Spraying/dipping/brushing

Dispersion of solid lubricant as an additive in oil,

water or grease is most commonly used.
For parts that are inaccessible for lubrication after
assembly, a dry film lubricant can be sprayed.
After the solvent evaporates, the coating cures at
room temperature to form a solid lubricant.
For high temperatures above 500C, pastes are
composed on the basis of metal powders to
protect metal parts from oxidation.

Free Powders

Dry-powder tumbling is an effective application

method.
Use of free powders has its limitations, since
adhesion of the solid particles to the substrate is
usually insufficient.
So mostly this technique is used to improve run in
conditions or in metal forming processes where
only initial lubrication is needed.

AF coating

Anti-Friction (AF) coatings

are "lubricating paints"
consisting of fine particles
of lubricating pigments.
These lubricants bond to
the metal surface and form
a dark gray solid film.
Applied where fretting and
galling is a problem (such
assplines,universal joints)

Composites

Also known as self lubricating composites.

Solid lubricants are compounded in plastics to form
a "self-lubricating" or "internally lubricated"
thermoplastic composite.
It acts as a nucleating agent effecting in a very fine
crystalline structure.

Examples:
PTFE particles compounded in the plastic form a
PTFE film over the mating surface, resulting in a
reduction of friction and wear.
MoS2compounded innylonreduces wear, friction
and stick-slip.

Thank you