Solid Lubricants:

Reducing friction and wear

MCyTM
pablo.garcia.trinanes@usc.es 1
Author: Pablo García Triñanes
 Usually, this type of lubricant materials have a
crystalline structure that allows a low laminar
shear and, therefore, reduces the friction between
the surfaces.

1. PROPERTIES
2. TYPES
3. APPLICATIONS
4. REFERENCES

pablo.garcia.trinanes@usc.es 2
Particle surface after exposure at 1500°F
 A good solid lubricant is characterized by a strong
adhesion to the substrate, a total area coverage and
good malleability. In addition, they can operate in
extreme conditions.

1. PROPERTIES
2. TYPES
3. APPLICATIONS
4. REFERENCES

pablo.garcia.trinanes@usc.es 3
 ADVANTAGES

-High stability at high temperatures, cryogenic

temperatures, vacuum or high pressure.
-Are more efficient than fluid lubricants with intermittent
1. PROPERTIES loads and high speeds.
2. TYPES -Equipment can be lighter and do not need full sealed.
3. APPLICATIONS -Offer a distinct advantage in places where access is
4. REFERENCES difficult for service work.

DISADVANTAGES

-Have higher coefficients of friction and wear than for

hydrodynamic lubrication.
-Have poor heat dissipation with low thermally conductive
lubricants, such as polymer-base films.

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pablo.garcia.trinanes@usc.es
 LAMINAR
 Molybdenum disulphide
 Graphite
1. PROPERTIES  Boron Nitride
2. TYPES
Antimony Oxide
3. APPLICATIONS
4. REFERENCES  Borax
 Polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE)
 Fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP)

SELF-LUBRICATING
Graphalloys
Microporous Lubricants (MPL)

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1. PROPERTIES
2. TYPES
3. APPLICATIONS
4. REFERENCES

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  s  (1   ) m

Pm
1. PROPERTIES where “ ” is the relative area of metal-to metal contact,
2. TYPES s is the shear stress of the metal-to-metal contact junction,
3. APPLICATIONS m is the shear strength of the lubricating film, and
4. REFERENCES Pm , is the pressure developed on the contact surface.

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1. PROPERTIES
2. TYPES
3. APPLICATIONS
4. REFERENCES

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1. PROPERTIES
2. TYPES
3. APPLICATIONS
4. REFERENCES

Specific to environments and circumstances of high demand in both aerospace and

terrestrial applications (bearings, gears, precision mechanisms, door hinges, special
locks...) or other lubricant additives such as oils, aerosols or modifying agents of friction
properties, thickeners ...
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 1. Lubricants and special fluids. Trybology Series, 23. V. Stepina, V. Vesely.
Elsevier (1992) ISBN: 0-444-98674-X
1. PROPERTIES 2. Trybology of interface layers. H. Heshmat. Taylor & Francis (2010) ISBN:
2. TYPES 978-0-8247-5832-5
3. APPLICATIONS 3. Chemistry and Technology of Lubricants. 3rd Edition. R.M. Mortier, M.F.
4. REFERENCES Fox, S.T. Orszulik. Springer (2010) ISBN: 978-1-4020-8661-8
4. Solid Lubricants and Coatings for Extreme Environments: State-of-the-Art
Survey. Kazuhisa Miyoshi. NASA/TM—2007-214668 (January, 2007)
5. Lubricants and hydraulic fluids. (Chapter 6. Non Fluid Lubricants) Manual
No. 1110-2-1424. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (29th January, 1999)
6. Solid lubricants for applications at elevated temperatures. A review. I.M.
Allam. Journal of Materials Science. Vol. 26, (15), 3977-3984 (1991)
7. Improved wear performance by the incorporation of solid lubricants
during thermal spraying. B. R. Marple, J. Voyer. Journal of Thermal Spray
Technology. Vol. 10,(4), 626-636 (December, 2001)

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