Dry film lubricants are complex coatings made up of lubricating pigments in a continuous matrix of resin that bind lubricating powders such as MoS2 (molybdenum disulphide), graphite, or PTFE to a surface. They are used in the form of AF (antifriction) coatings to prevent surface-to-surface contact, reducing friction and wear between mating surfaces and improve lubrication efficiency, running-in or for emergency-running properties.
Each lubricant powder has different properties depending on their structure and composition. These properties can vary for high load bearing, very low co-efficient of friction, high temperature and increased resistance to chemical attack, abrasion and corrosion.
Dry film lubricants are often used when other lubricants such as grease and oil cannot be used, due to temperature, load, wear, migration, and debris when the liquid can change fluid state and will no longer provide protection. In these conditions, a dry film lubricant will remain intact and provide continuous lubrication.
As high-performance lubricants, AF coatings offer maintenance-free permanent lubrication and meet extreme requirements which conventional lubricants are incapable of supporting.
Molykotes (MoS2)
MOLYKOTE® is a trade name family of specialty lubricant products, to help meet the toughest technical design and lubrication challenges. The full line ensures a solution for nearly every situation.
Anti-friction coatings are used where high-performance, long-term and dry film lubrication is required and are particularly effective in boundary friction and mixed friction states.
Often described as “lubricating paints”, MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings contain solid lubricants dispersed through carefully selected resin blends and solvents.
Anti-friction coatings help improve safety, reliability, and performance by controlling friction and wear, preventing component failures, extending lubrication intervals, and reducing production and operating costs.
MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings are valued by the world’s leading engineers and manufacturers and are trusted for uses where maximum wear endurance is needed in a wide variety of applications, from increasingly electrified, autonomous, and energy-efficient vehicles to industrial challenges where functionality, connectivity, safety and sustainability are critical.
Benefits
Economical to apply, long-lasting and valued in uses where other lubricants fail, MOLYKOTE® provides:
- Dry, clean lubrication unaffected by dust, dirt and moisture
- Lubrication without ageing, evaporation or oxidation
- Rust prevention without surface treatments (e.g., galvanizing)
- Non-flammable, non-staining protection on metals, plastics and elastomers
- Controlled film thickness for exact load-bearing capabilities
- Fully effective lubrication, even after prolonged shutdown
Application method
Spray and oven cured.
Industrial applications
- Threaded connections
- Seals, valves
- Pumps
- Bearings and gears
- Chains
- Shats
- General assembly
Everlube® Ecoalube®, Ever-Slik® etc
Everlube® coatings are a range of branded dry / solid film lubricant products that have been specifically designed to enhance and improve the performance of critical components and meet a wide variety of industry, defence and customer specifications for critical components.
These coatings are a range of hard-wearing solid film lubrication systems used in the control of corrosion, wear, galling, friction control, and chemical resistance.
Everlube® is a range of solid film lubricants based on a heat-cured phenolic binder loaded with molybdenum disulphide for high-load applications.
Ever-Slik® 1201 is solid film lubricant based on a heat-cured epoxy binder and is loaded with molybdenum disulphide. It can be used as a stand-alone coating or as a primer for Ever-Slik® 1301. Operating temperature for 1201 is 400 F (204 C) and 300 F (149 C) for 1301.
Ecoalube® 643 is a thermally cured, lead-free, MoS2 based solid film lubricant with a high molecular weight epoxy binder system. This coating provides excellent chemical resistance, wear life, abrasion resistance and performs best in higher load carrying applications.
There are many more coatings in the Everlube® range that are used as a viable alternative to more traditional lubrication methods, such as grease and oil as they offer longer lasting lubrication and can be used in extreme and adverse conditions.
Properties
Dry / solid film lubricant coatings have different properties depending on their structure and composition.
- High load bearing
- Reduce friction coefficient
- High temperature resistance
- Enhance chemical corrosion resistance
- Improve rust resistance
- Abrasion resistance
Typical applications
- Fasteners, springs, bearings, cams, gears and seals
- Aerospace hydraulic fittings, valve components and non-intrusive medical instruments
- Shafts, splines and bushes
- Petrochemical, oil and gas subsea and topside components
Application method
Spray and oven cured or air dry spray or brush.
