Overview of Dry Film Lubricants and Performance Factors
author: Ann
2024-10-16
Dry film lubricants are suspensions of solid lubricants and other additives in inorganic or organic adhesive solutions. The most commonly used are molybdenum disulfide, graphite and PTFE. They all have unique properties that determine their use. The most important of the additives are antirust pigments. The adhesives used are mainly organic resins (acrylic, phenol-based, epoxy, silicone, polyurethane resins), cellulose, and inorganic silicates. Hydrocarbons or water are used as solvents. These substances are added to the desired parts by impregnation centrifuges and drum wheels and various other spraying processes. The hardening process depends on the adhesive system and is done at room temperature or in an enamel oven. After hardening, a highly adhesive dry film is formed. The adhesive layer formed in this way can contain up to 70% solid lubricant.
The lubrication efficiency, life and wear reduction of dry film lubricants are variable and are influenced by a number of different factors. The performance of dry film lubricants depends on:
(1) its composition: in particular, the type of adhesive, the ratio of solid lubricant to adhesive, the type of solid lubricant and film thickness.
(2) The nature of the substrate on which the lubricating coating is to be applied, in particular cleanliness, roughness, and surface hardness.
(3) Environmental conditions, in particular the requirements of the lubricant (e.g. load), type and speed of movement, temperature, atmospheric pollution, atmospheric pressure and the surrounding medium.
The pretreatment of the substrate surface plays a very important role in the use of lubricant film performance. The surface roughness of the substrate and the arrangement of the microcrystals have a considerable influence on the life of the lubricant film. Various pretreatment methods can be used to make the substrate surface reach the most ideal condition. For metal surfaces, sandblasting, phosphate treatment, electroplating, etching, etc. are usually used, and for plastic and rubber surfaces, surface treatment can be achieved through chemical and mechanical treatment methods, as well as through energy-activated pathways.
The lubrication efficiency, life and wear reduction of dry film lubricants are variable and are influenced by a number of different factors. The performance of dry film lubricants depends on:
(1) its composition: in particular, the type of adhesive, the ratio of solid lubricant to adhesive, the type of solid lubricant and film thickness.
(2) The nature of the substrate on which the lubricating coating is to be applied, in particular cleanliness, roughness, and surface hardness.
(3) Environmental conditions, in particular the requirements of the lubricant (e.g. load), type and speed of movement, temperature, atmospheric pollution, atmospheric pressure and the surrounding medium.
The pretreatment of the substrate surface plays a very important role in the use of lubricant film performance. The surface roughness of the substrate and the arrangement of the microcrystals have a considerable influence on the life of the lubricant film. Various pretreatment methods can be used to make the substrate surface reach the most ideal condition. For metal surfaces, sandblasting, phosphate treatment, electroplating, etching, etc. are usually used, and for plastic and rubber surfaces, surface treatment can be achieved through chemical and mechanical treatment methods, as well as through energy-activated pathways.
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