High-value, high-performance long-term lubrication
Often described as “lubricating paints,” MOLYKOTE® AFCs contain solid lubricants – rather than coloring pigment – dispersed through carefully selected resin blends and solvents. The choice of raw materials and the concentration of each ingredient are important to the application-based customization of each coating.
MOLYKOTE® AFCs form a dry film and optimize friction of metal, plastic and elastomer parts – even under intense loads and harsh operating and environmental conditions.
The coatings are easy to apply by spraying, brushing, dip-spinning, roll-coating or screen printing. After curing, the bonded, dry lubricating film provides durable wear protection with a certain level of corrosion protection and resists dust and contamination.
This makes MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings ideal for use in dirty, dusty and humid environments and on inaccessible parts that require long-term lubrication.
Economical to apply, long-lasting and valued in uses where other lubricants fail, MOLYKOTE® AFCs provide:
- Dry, clean lubrication unaffected by dust, dirt and moisture
- Lifetime lubrication without aging, evaporation or oxidation
- Rust prevention without surface treatments (e.g., galvanizing)
- Nonflammable, nonstaining protection on metals, plastics and elastomers
- Controlled film thickness for exact load-bearing capabilities
- Fully effective lubrication, even after prolonged shutdown
MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings help customers improve safety, reliability and performance by controlling friction and wear, preventing component failures, extending lubrication intervals, and reducing production and operating costs.
Delivering results in tough conditions
Operating principles and conditions
MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings are particularly effective in boundary friction and mixed friction states, as illustrated in the Stribeck curve (Figure 1). In these states, direct metal-to-metal contact and wear take place because fluid hydrodynamic lubrication cannot be realized.
In MOLYKOTE® AFCs, the solid lubricants are kept on the substrate surface by the bonding force of the resin package so the surfaces are always separated by an effective dry film – whether under very low speeds, oscillating movements or high loads. MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings also can support hydrodynamic lubrication as an agent to improve running-in. In addition, AFCs provide lubricity in case of hydrodynamic film breakdown.
Typical running-in effect and friction value
Anti-friction coatings generally are applied at 10-20 µm dry film thickness. Under load, the structure of the film is compacted, producing an extremely smooth surface covering the asperities of the carrier material (Figure 3). Coefficient of friction values of MoS2-based anti-friction coatings are compared to PTFE-based coatings in Figure 4. The coefficient of friction value of Mos2-based coatings drops after a short running-in phase.
Innovating through collaborative application engineering
MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings offer finetuned solutions enabled by a customer-oriented development process – made possible by our network of global collaboration and technical development centers equipped with the latest tribological and analytical technology. When
customers work together with us, they have the full benefit of our:
- Tribology testing capabilities, from standard data sheet test methods to custom-designed test rigs to match specific customer applications
- Equipment to replicate part movement across a wide range of loads, environmental conditions, temperatures and speeds (LETS) to assist with all stages of development – from prototype to production and maintenance
- In-house coating research and development
- Deep knowledge in resin and solid lubricant technology
- Regional experts who translate customer application challenges into measurable lubricant solutions
In addition, we provide support for coating-line designs, process improvements and coating-shop recommendations. Combining DuPont™ resins with MOLYKOTE® lubricant expertise and advanced formulations will help us to develop better solutions for emerging trends and challenges.
Solutions for a wide range of applications
As fail-safe lubricants, MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings are valued by the world’s leading engineers and manufacturers and are trusted for uses where maximum wear endurance is needed in a wide variety of applications – from increasingly electrified, autonomous and energy-efficient vehicles to industrial challenges where functionality, connectivity, safety and sustainability are critical.
Together, we can create lubrication solutions for your specific automotive and industrial applications. The next few pages highlight common application examples of MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings.
Piston skirt coating
MOLYKOTE® D-10-GBL Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-6024 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® PA 744 Anti-Friction Coating
For enhanced durability and emergency lubrication on pistons and piston rings; reduces noise and scuffing while increasing efficiency and fuel economy; screen-printable
Starter motor anchors
MOLYKOTE® D-6600 Anti-Friction Coating
Low friction for lifetime durability of metal/metal pairings; suitable for startstop system
Exhaust manifold gaskets
MOLYKOTE® D-6900 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-7620 Anti-Friction Coating
Improves sealing properties and avoids microseizing at high temperatures to meet Euro 6 norm; enables easier disassembly; designed for coil and roller coating
Lock mechanisms, lock-catching plates and locking levers, safety hooks
MOLYKOTE® 3400A LF Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-708 Anti-Friction Coating
Long-term lubrication and corrosion protection; not affected by dust
Door panels, armrests, consoles, interior trim
MOLYKOTE® D-96 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-9630 Anti-Friction Coating
Lifetime anti-noise performance in cases where unfavorable material pairings are combined; when used as a replacement for nonwoven tape, it eliminates squeaks and rattles and represents an economical solution
Seat belt components
MOLYKOTE® D-6600 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-708 Anti-Friction Coating
Low-friction dry lubrication for lifetime durability of metal/metal pairings; nonstaining
Caliper springs and brake clips
MOLYKOTE® D-708 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-709 Anti-Friction Coating
Dry lubrication of steel springs in caliper brake pad sliding guides; works alongside a dry lubricant as an insulating anti-corrosion coating
Air conditioner swash plates
MOLYKOTE® D-6818 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-7409 Anti-Friction Coating
Excellent lubrication performance; high wear resistance; efficient processability; excellent chemical resistance
Air conditioner pistons
MOLYKOTE® D-6927 Anti-Friction Coating
Excellent lubrication performance; excellent chemical resistance to refrigerant and compressor oil; high wear resistance at mild conditions; efficient processability
Gears
MOLYKOTE® D-7409 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® 7400 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-321 R Anti-Friction Coating
High load-carrying capacity for running-in protection of heavily loaded gear sets
Threaded connections
MOLYKOTE® D-708 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-3484 Anti-Friction Coating
Defined, constant friction levels and corrosion protection for bolts, studs and nuts
Chains
MOLYKOTE® D-7409 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-3484 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-321 R Anti-Friction Coating
Long-life friction reduction for pins (MOLYKOTE® D-7409 Anti-Friction Coating, MOLYKOTE® D-3484 Anti-Friction Coating); reliable lubrication for complete chains (MOLYKOTE® D-321 R Anti-Friction Coating)
Springs
MOLYKOTE® D-321 R Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-3484 Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® D-7409 Anti-Friction Coating
Friction reduction to eliminate stick-slip and increase efficiency
Valves
MOLYKOTE® D-7409 Anti-Friction Coating
Operating efficiency; eliminates stick-slip; high chemical and fluid resistance
General assembly
MOLYKOTE® D-321 R Anti-Friction Coating
MOLYKOTE® 3402-C LF Anti-Friction Coating
Powerful dry-film lubricants for easy assembly of sliding parts; MOLYKOTE® 3402-C LF Anti-Friction Coating additionally offers good corrosion protection; MOLYKOTE® D-321 R AntiFriction Coating also is available in spray cans
Rubber and plastic components, such as O-rings and seals
MOLYKOTE® D-9100 Anti-Friction Coating
Translucent dry-film coating for rubber and plastic components; reduces and controls friction, wear and noise; flexible coating withstands part elongation; excellent adhesion; long service life; high productivity and processing speed with UV curing
Product Selection
Selected coatings for corrosion protection
Friction values and specific properties
Application process
The coating process
To ensure the effectiveness and full service life of MOLYKOTE® Anti-Friction Coatings, a proper coating process must be followed (Figure 5). Surface pretreatment plays a key role in coating service life and performance. Depending on the material, this can include processes such as solvent sonication, degreasing, media blasting, detergent washing, phosphating, anodizing, acid washing, e-coating, corona/plasma treatment and others (Figure 6).
Once the pretreated parts are dry and clean, different methods – varying by part geometry, weight, quantity and coating liquid viscosity – can be used to apply the anti-friction coating, including dip spinning, tumble spraying, HVLP spraying, screen printing, brushing, rolling and coil-coating.
Once coating is applied to the substrate, a curing process is required. Time to cure (from 2 to 90 minutes) and temperature needed (from ambient temperature up to 250°C) can vary, depending on the cure mechanism (heat, air or UV).
Pretreatment methods
AFCs for automotive application needs
AFCs for industrial application needs
Source: Molykote ACF brochure
