get in touch
get in touch

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Dry Film Lubricants

banner

“Dry Film Lubricants”, (DFLs) also called solid film lubricants (SFLs), are:

  1. Materials with inherent lubricant properties.
  2. Firmly bonded to the surface of a substrate.
  3. Applied in the liquid state, generally by spray, tumble coater, or bath immersion.

Unlike wet lubricants, i.e. oil, grease that stay ‘wet’ while on the part, dry film lubricants go on wet, but then dry on the part it has been applied to. Particles do not stick to dry lube. Dry lube does not require any maintenance like wet lube. DFLs can be powder or liquid coatings such as PTFE, Xylan®, Epoxy, Polyester or Urethane.

The range of coatings includes environmentally friendly and REACH compliant coatings, as well as air cured, high temperature and PTFE. Among the solid film lubricants coatings we offer are Everlube®, Microseal®, Lube-Lok®, Lubri-Bond®, Ecoalube®, Ever-Slik®, Esnalube™, Perma-Slik®, Electrobond®, Flurene® , Formkote® and Henco-Mask™.

Dry film lubricants are made up of a combination of resin binders and lubricating pigments. The resin holds the lubricating pigment in place so that a layer interposes between the rubbing surfaces. As the surfaces move, the coating prevents direct contact of the substrate materials.
DFLs create a “Slippery” Factor

Without SFL

Fretting and galling of the substrate

With SFL

Protective layer created between substrates

Dry Film Lubricants – Brands

  • Everlube® (H3)
  • Microseal®
  • Lube-Lok®
  • Lubri-Bond®
  • Ecoalube®
  • Ever-Slik®
  • Esnalube™
  • Perma-Slik®
  • Electrobond®
  • Flurene®
  • Formkote®
  • Henco-Mask™

Dry Film Lubricants – Environmental Factors

Solid Film Lubricants excel in:

  • High load applications
  • Applications where a very low coefficient of friction is desired
  • High-temperature environments
Chemical and corrosion Delays or prevents corrosion
Abrasion resistance / reduced wear Withstands loads in excess of 250 ksi
Friction Reduces coefficient of friction
Lubrication Does not attract containments like “wet lubes”
No maintenance required
Water Based Coatings Lower VOCs, easy to apply
Temperature From -395ºF (-237ºC) to over 2000ºF (1093ºC)

Dry Film Lubricants- Product Applications

Fasteners: Torque/tension control, anti-galling, corrosion resistance
Couplings: Lubrication, anti-seize, chemical & corrosion resistance
Valves: Chemical & abrasion resistance, anti-seize
Pumps: Break-in lubrication, wear-life extension, chemical resistance
Gears: Close tolerance, precision gear lubrication, break-in lubrication
Bearings – Operation in vacuum or dirty environment, temperature extremes
Turbines: Turbine blade root sections and disk slots to aid in assembly, disassembly and reduces fretting and galling.
Firearms: Wear resistance, protection against corrosion, durability, lubricity, and decreased friction.

Dry Film Coating Approvals

Dry Film Lubricants – Main Categories

Crystalline Lattice (lamella) Type Structures

The shear forces between the layers are weak, which results in increased lubricity between the sliding surfaces.

  • Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2)
  • Tungsten Disulfide (WS2)

Graphite and Fluorocarbons

PTFE is a white, opaque synthetic fluoropolymer that provides lubrication in continuous use up to 260oC (500oF). The fluorocarbon molecule is structured such that the fluorine atoms surrounding the carbon atoms prevent any other atoms from getting near the carbon, Prohibiting any further reaction. For this reason, PTFE is very unreactive which causes it to have a very low coefficient of friction and allows things to slide across its surface very easily.

Dry Film Lubricants – Benefits

The key factors for PTFE dry film lubricant coatings are:

  • Flexible
  • Chemically resistant
  • Non-stick characteristics
  • Electrically resistant
  • Very low coefficient of friction, especially in lower load carrying applications
  • Improve chemical resistance to attack, abrasion and corrosion.
  • Enhance performance of the material:
    • corrosion protection
    • wear resistance
    • electrical insulation
    • electromagnetic shielding
    • chemical agent resistance.

Speak to an Expert

Selecting the Correct Dry Film Lubricant

What properties are desired What is the environment
Load carrying capacity Temperature
Low coefficient of friction High vacuum
Corrosion resistance Moisture / Humidity
Electrical properties Presence of oxygen
Radiation

Dry Film Lubricants – Types

properties Molybdenum Disulfide Graphite PTFE
Load carrying capacity >250 ksi <50 ksi <20 ksi
Coefficient of friction 0.04-0.08 0.04-0.10 0.02-0.04
Affect of moisture Negative Positive None
Electrical conductivity Not conductive Conductive Not conductive
Max operating temp in air 750F 1200F 500F
Operation in fluids /lubes Break-in only Break-in only Yes
Key strength High loads, operates in vacuum and cryogenic environments Moderate loads, high operating temp., electrically conductive Does not lubricate sacrificially, clean environments, coatings can be decorative

Other Liquid Coatings – EMI/RFI Shielding

Smaller electronic components are particularly susceptible to damage or failure due to electrostatic discharge. EMI/RFI shielding blocks unwanted external and/or internal electromagnetic waves from emitting and interfering with other circuits or devices.
Learn more about EMI/RFI Shielding

Recent News

November 11, 2020
Curtiss-Wright Recognized as a Whitford Recommended Coater
September 30, 2020
Curtiss-Wright’s Everlube® R-75 Certified to NSF-61
July 27, 2020
Curtiss-Wright’s Microseal® Supports NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission

SUBMIT AN RFQ

LIQUID COATING APPROVALS

OTHER ENGINEERED COATINGS