DRY FILM LUBRICANTS
DRY FILM LUBRICANTS
“Dry Film Lubricants”, (DFLs) also called solid film lubricants (SFLs), are:
- Materials with inherent lubricant properties.
- Firmly bonded to the surface of a substrate.
- 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 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.
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Selecting the Correct Dry Film Lubricant
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Dry Film Lubricants – Types
| properties | Molybdenum Disulfide | Graphite | PTFE |
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| 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 |
SPECS & APPROVALS
DFL Spec Approvals
| STANDARD | ISSUER |
| AMS 2488 | SAE |
| AMS 2525 | SAE |
| AMS 2526 | SAE |
| AMS 2530 | SAE |
| AMS 2700 | SAE |
| AS 1701 | SAE |
| AS 5272 | SAE |
| ASTM B904-00 | ASTM-EMI/RFI Plating Spec |
| BMS 10-85 | BOEING |
| BMS 3-8 | BOEING |
| DMS 1762 (BAC5811) | BOEING |
| DTW 1248 | JOHN DEERE |
| FMS 3101 | LOCKHEED MARTIN |
| GE A50TF305 | GE AEROSPACE |
| GE A50TF9 | GE AEROSPACE |
| GMW 17182 | GENERAL MOTORS |
| HS 295 | HI-SHEAR CORP |
| HS248 | RTX Corp. (Pratt & Whitney) |
| IAW 12469123 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-A-8625 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-DTL-16232 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-DTL-53072 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-DTL-5541 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-L-23398 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-L-81329 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-L-8937 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-PRF-22750 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-PRF-23377 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-PRF-46010 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-PRF-46147 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-PRF-85285 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-PRF-85582 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| MIL-STD-171 | DEPT. OF DEFENSE |
| NAS 4006 | NAS |
| PS 18021 | BOEING |
| PWA 36210 | RTX Corp. (Pratt & Whitney) |
| PWA 36211 | RTX Corp. (Pratt & Whitney) |
| PWA 36212 | RTX Corp. (Pratt & Whitney) |
| PWA 36545 | RTX Corp. (Pratt & Whitney) |
| RPS 661/10 | ROLLS ROYCE |
| SPEC 616 | HOWMET FASTENING |
| SPEC 628 | HOWMET FASTENING |
| SPEC 630 | HOWMET FASTENING |
| T 1013 | HOWMET FASTENING |
| TT-C-490 | HOWMET FASTENING |
Other Liquid Coatings – EMI/RFI Shielding
Electrostatic discharge makes Smaller electronic components particularly susceptible to damage or failure. EMI/RFI shielding blocks unwanted external and internal electromagnetic waves from emitting and interfering with other circuits or devices.
Learn more about EMI/RFI Shielding
Recent News
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Curtiss-Wright Recognized as a Whitford Recommended Coater
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Curtiss-Wright’s Everlube® R-75 Certified to NSF-61
July 27, 2020
Curtiss-Wright’s Microseal® Supports NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission
