There are many Dry film Lubrication coating types and Brands available, from molybdenum disulfate, to PTFE, to graphite, or ceramic based products.
FNG Precision Coatings can assist you in navigating these choices based on the material of your component, the intended use and level of lubricating properties are desired. Contact us today to begin a consultative dialogue.
Key information regarding your coating project includes:
What is the substrate material? Since dry film lubricants cure at different temperatures, it is necessary to specify a coating which curing temperature is appropriate for the substrate material. As an example, a PTFE coating that cures at 580F is fine for steel and stainless steel, but does not work for polymers.
Why is the dry lubricant needed? Consideration to operating load, temperature, longevity (MTBR), duty cycle, substrate material and more needs be part of the decision-making process toward which coating to be utilized. Working with experienced service providers will make this a straight-forward process.
Is the component plated? Depending on the type of substrate and the type of plating that has been applied, there is opportunity for the plating to fail during curing at elevated temperatures and this needs to be factored in to the type of lubricant coating being used.
Are there any Standards involved? Mil-Spec, FDA, or other? There are several different dry film lubricants, one of the more prevalent is PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and it is the typical non-stick coating seen on pots and pans in your kitchen. However, there are multiple resins used with PTFE and although PTFE by itself is inert and FDA acceptable, the resin mixed with the PTFE may not be. It is therefore critical to understand what the end-use goal is before selecting and applying a coating.
Is corrosion protection a factor? Virtually any time a coating is applied there is some level of protection from environmental conditions the component is in dry film lubricants are no different in this regard, however, some of these coatings provide better protection than others. The difference between them can be 10 times the protection or more, at the expense of lubricious properties, so it makes sense to have a conversation about this prior to selecting a particular coating product.
By selecting the best compromise, benefits such as lower friction, increased part life, coating dimensional conformity and longer mean time between replacement (MTBR) can be obtained.
If you have a component that requires dry film lubrication coating, feel free to contact FNG Precision Coatings and we will assist you with the process.
