Dry Film Lubricant Coating Services
Designed to reduce friction between one or more surfaces, dry film lubricant (DFL) is a coating application that's best utilized on components intended to perform in extreme temperature environments, high and low-pressure environments, and situations where liquids and oils cannot be used. Let’s take a closer look at the dry film lubricant process, the benefits of dry film lubrication, and its ideal applications.
As experts in all things metal finishing, Light Metals Coloring is pleased to offer dry film lubrication services to our customers with applicable parts and products. Read on to learn more about dry film lubrication and how our team can help support your applications.
Dry Film Lubricant Coating Process
Dry film lubricants are coatings used on components that need to perform in demanding environments or where reducing friction between various parts is key. Also known as "lubes" or "solid film lubes," dry film lubricants offer protection from damage during relative movement from friction and general wear and tear.
The dry film lubricant application process tends to vary based on the specific type of dry film lubricating material that is being applied. For instance, several main types are commonly applied: Fluoropolymer, Xylan, Anoplate, PTFE, and Molybdenum Disulfide. Each of these lubricants has different properties and a different application process.
Fluoropolymer, for example, is a dry, solid film lubricant and is best applied using a one-coat system that works to fuse
the coating to the substrate. Xylan and Molybdenum Disulfide are often applied similarly, but designed to work differently. The former is a low-friction compound that helps reduce surface wear and resist heat and corrosion, while the latter is a moly dry film lubricant that's designed to provide friction protection in high load-bearing applications. Other lubricants can be sprayed on like paint or dipped.
For more information on the dry film lubricant coating process, contact Light Metals Coloring today.
Benefits of DFL
There are a variety of benefits associated with dry film lubrication. Here's a closer look at some of them:
- It acts as an anti-friction coating, which can significantly reduce wear and tear and promote part or product longevity in certain applications.
- Lubricants are an ideal alternative in applications that cannot support greases or oils.
- As the name implies, lubricants are dry and not applied in a wet or liquid manner.
- Dry film lubrication can also serve as a backup lubricant that works in association with greases and oils.
- Dry film lubricants provide corrosion protection and can help promote longer wear life.
- Dry film lubricants are ideal for a wide range of applications (more about that in the next section).
- They're designed to perform in some of the most demanding environments where other fluids may freeze or vaporize.
Common Applications
As we mentioned above, one of the biggest benefits of dry film lubrication is that it's designed to work with a wide range of applications. Here's a closer look at some of the ideal applications and industries they're often utilized in:
- Industries such as firearms, aerospace, and industrial equipment.
- Small components, such as fasteners, cables, slide mechanisms, and more.
- In situations where greases and other lubricants are not applicable or difficult to apply or retain.
- In sliding and rotating part applications.
- As a complement to grease.
Contact LMC
At Light Metals Coloring, pairing our customers with the right metal finishing for their parts is what we do – and dry film lubrication is a big part of the finishing services we offer. We work with clients in industries from aerospace to automotive to firearms to heavy industrial equipment and can serve as your ideal partner for all of your finishing services.
Contact us today to learn more about our dry film lubricating process and whether or not your application is ideally suited for it. We're standing by and ready to become an extension of your business.