Technology
DEVELOPED FOR SPACE EXPLORATION
The dry lubricant technology developed by LUBODRY® PRODUCTIONS found its origin in early space exploration programs, which were trying to limit the effects of linear and rotary friction. Since then, innovative LUBODRY® PRODUCTIONS impinged lubricants are still used for key components of several space programs.
DESCRIPTION OF LUBODRY PROCESSES
Our impinged micro-particles of dry lubricants are used in replacement of, or in addition to, conventional lubrication systems as they offer long-lasting (“permanent”) lubrication properties, even under extreme conditions. Indeed, conventional lubricants (greases, oils, etc.) can only be used in a narrow range of “regular” conditions. Outside of this environment (extreme temperature, heavy load, wear, migration, pollution, vacuum, etc.), conentional lubricants change state and lose their lubricating properties. In addition to their outstanding performance in extreme environments, our impinged Graphite, MOS2 or WS2 lubricant processes prevent and eliminate the phenomena of jamming and wear, reduce friction and do not outgas in vacuum.
LUBODRY PRODUCTIONS always recommend the most efficient lubrication system according to your own requirements and any serie is, in all circumstances, preceded by one or more validation tests. LUBODRY PRODUCTIONS is the European leader for dry lubricant impingement process (either based on Graphite, MoS2 or WS2 powders). Our technology and know-how require specific equipment which could only be used by trained operators. Consequently, we do not provide products (powders, paints or other resins), but apply our processes at our production facility in Sartrouville (Yvelines, France). A previously prepared surface (substrate) is bombarded with micro-particles of lubricant powders which embed in the atomic structure of the workpiece. Our impingement technology of Graphite, Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) or Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) microparticles cause a molecular bond, thus a very strong adhesion of the lubricating particles to the processed substrates. Our processes rely on a proprietary air compression system for projection at supersonic speeds (> 1,968 ft / s) at room temperature, and using an inorganic binder. When required, our WS2 based process is applied without our proprietary inorganic binder. The surface of parts to be processed is previously prepared so as to obtain a structure free of any oxide or impurity and to allow optimum molecular bond between the dry lubricant microparticles and the substrate.
LUBODRY Dry lubricant processes do not create extra thickness at the surface of the treated parts. They prevent direct contact between the two parts in relative motion, thus create a lubricating film (like with oil- or grease-based solution). The extremely low friction coefficient of our processes (from 0.02 to 0.07, depending on impinged microparticles) avoids excessive friction and its consequences, such as the generation of high temperatures, seizing phenomena and premature wear of your industrial parts and equipements. Our lubricant processes are embedded permanently into the surface of your parts and can not be removed without simultaneously removing a portion of the substrate itself.
SPECIFICATIONS
Impinged at room temperature, the LUBODRY lubricant processes are applicable on all types of substrates (ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, composite materials, etc.)
Microparticles are molecularly and permanently bonded to the substrate.
Very low friction coefficients (from 0.02 to 0.07).
Virtually know no operating limits : performing at temperatures ranging from -250° C through 1 100° C in the air and up to 1 500° C in vacuum.
The main characteristics of LUBODRY® dry lubricant processes
| LUBODRY® G | LUBODRY® M | LUBODRY® W | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | Graphite (C) | Molybdenum Disulfide (MOS2) | Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) |
| Appearance / Colour | Gray / dark gray | Silvery / gray / gray-blue | Silvery / gray / polished rhodium |
| Substrates | All kinds of metals, platings, plastics and man-made materials | All kinds of metals, platings, plastics and man-made materials | All kinds of metals, platings, plastics and man-made materials |
| Surface | No modification on surface and structure | No modification on surface and structure | No modification on surface and structure |
| Density | 2 090 – 2 230 kg/m3 | 5 060 kg/m3 | 7 500 kg/m3 |
| Thickness | 2,5 microns | <5 microns | 0,5 microns |
| Molecular Weight | 12,0107 g/mol | 160,07 g/mol | 247,97 g/mol |
| Radiation Stability | Stable under radiation | Stable under radiation | Stable under radiation |
| Outgassing | Low | Low | Very low |
| Adhesion type | Physicochemical binding by molecular adsorption, without any flaking, peeling or delamination. Marginal pollution from particules which could be removed easily on demand | Physicochemical binding by molecular adsorption, without any flaking, peeling or delamination. Marginal pollution from particules which could be removed easily on demand | Physicochemical binding by molecular adsorption, without any flaking, peeling or delamination. No migration of micropaticles |
| Application process | High pressure projection using a tailor made suction nozzle with pressurized air (101,6 psi to 203,19 psi). May also be applied into deep bores with a ratio of 1 to 7 with the diameter | High pressure projection using a tailor made suction nozzle with pressurized air (101,6 psi to 203,19 psi). May also be applied into deep bores with a ratio of 1 to 7 with the diameter | High pressure projection using a tailor made suction nozzle with pressurized air (101,6 psi to 203,19 psi). No need for heat treatment. May also be applied into deep bores with a ratio of 1 to 7 with the diameter |
| Adhesion Temperature | Application at ambiente temperature and polymerization at ambiente temperature during 7 days, or : 3 hours at 90°C or 1.5 hour at 140°C | Application at ambiente temperature and polymerization at ambiente temperature during 7 days, or : 3 hours at 90°C or 1.5 hour at 140°C | Application at 20-35°C, no need for heat treatment |
| Temperature Range | |||
| Normal atmosphere | From -250°C to +1100°C | From -250°C to +400°C | From -200°C to +600°C |
| Vacuum | From -250°C to +1500°C | From -250°C to +800°C | From -200°C to +800°C |
| Load Capacity | Same as for the substrate | Same as for the substrate | Same as for the substrate |
| Anti-Adhesion Properties | Good : process recognized for its anti-adhesive properties (examle : plastic injection molds) | Good : process recognized for its anti-adhesive properties (examle : plastic injection molds) | Good : process recognized for its anti-adhesive properties (examle : plastic injection molds) |
| Conductivity | Good : Same electrical properties as semi-conductors | Acceptable | Good : Same electrical properties as semi-conductors |
| Magnetism | Non-magnetic | Non-magnetic | Non-magnetic |
| Coefficient of friction | |||
| In motion | 0,02-0,07 | 0,02-0,07 | 0,03 max. |
| Vacuum | Low | Low | Low |
| Corrosion prevention | – With additional treatment : Excellent corrosion resistance – Without treatment : Minor delay of corrosion, superior to bare substrate |
– With additional treatment : Excellent corrosion resistance – Without treatment : Minor delay of corrosion, superior to bare substrate |
– With additional treatment : Excellent corrosion resistance – Without treatment : Minor delay of corrosion, superior to bare substrate |
| Chemical stability | Excellent chemical stability : inert substance, non-corrosive, insoluble in water, compatible with oils, alcohols and most fuels and solvents | Excellent chemical stability : inert substance, non-corrosive, insoluble in water, compatible with oils, alcohols and most fuels and solvents | Excellent chemical stability : inert substance, non-corrosive, insoluble in water, compatible with oils, alcohols and most fuels and solvents |
| Vacuum Stability | Good – no degassing | Good – no degassing | Very low outgassing |
| ATEX | No use restriction | No use restriction | No use restriction |
| Compatibility | Compatible with most oils, fuels, solvents, alcohols, paints and coatings | Compatible with most oils, fuels, solvents, alcohols, paints and coatings | Compatible with most oils, fuels, solvents, alcohols, paints and coatings. Not compatible with acid (pH<6) and alkalin solutions (pH>8) |
| Biocompatibility | – | – | Yes |
LUBODRY® Processes Characteristics
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APPLICATIONS
LUBODRY® dry lubricany processes are efficient in many industrial applications:
- Automotive and Transport
- Aerospace
- Energies
- Engines / Microdrives
- Precision Engineering
- Vacuum / Space
- Molding (glass and plastic molding, aluminium injection)
- Hydraulics
- Pneumatics
- Special machines
- Laser / Optics
- Medical technologies, laboratories and clean rooms
EXAMPLES OF PROCESSED COMPONENTS
- Components of space programs (satellite and shuttle components, etc.)
- Plastic injection molds to reduce wear and improve the quality of finished parts
- Aluminum extrusion molds
- Seals, hinges, ball and roller bearings, engine and transmission components for the motorsport industry
- Screws and steel, aluimium or titanium fasteners, etc.
- Screw-nut systems
- Springs
- Roller slides
- Weapons and ammunitions
- Marine Mechanical Components
- Cylinders Parts
- Elements of pumps, flanges, gears
- Cams and valves
- Actuators
- Seals, shafts and connections
- Linear guides
- Clutch forks
- Special Machines and Tools
- Gears and precision gears
- Microcomponents in precision instruments (watch movements, etc.)
- Additives to conventional oil- and grease- based lubricants to improve the coefficient of friction
QUALIFICATIONS
LUBODRY® dry lubricant processes meet the requirements a large number of specifications and qualifications, as examples are listed below:
- AMS 2525
- AMS 2526
- AMS 2530
- ASTM D 2510
- ASTM D 2625A
- ST1048 indice C
- S106-527
- STB-204
- Y39-0025
- Y39-0028
SOLVING FRETTING-CORROSION ISSUES
The fretting-corrosion phenomenon is a damage caused by corrosion upon contact of two metal surfaces in relative. This phenomenon mainly occurs when the interface is subject to vibrations (even in case of very low vibrations, of the order of a few μ) and compressive loads. When this phenomenon happens in a corrosive environment, it is also known as tribocorrosion.
Our dry lubricant coatings using Graphite, MoS2 and WS2 impingement process significantly prevent fretting-corrosion and tribocorrosion phenomena, as well as sustainably reduce friction levels.
SOLVING FRICTION AND WEAR ISSUES
Wear and friction are complex phenomena which depend on numerous parameters, such as temperature, surface roughness, celerity, load, and geometry. Friction is the major cause of wear and leads to dimensional alterations of parts and degradation of surface characteristics. The surface layers of an industrial part are degraded under the mechanical action of an external medium, then degradation is the combined result of the nature of friction materials and operating conditions (pressure, temperature, lubrication, corrosive atmosphere, etc.).
We are witnessing 4 different types of wear:
- The adherence wear, where friction detaches microscopic fragments of material which then act as abrasives
- The abrasion, where the solid particles (coming from one or the other of the friction materials or from outside) are impregnated into the softer surface, then scratch the harder surface (lubricated or not). This phenomenon happens in scuffing, shock or erosion conditions
- The corrosive wear, where the rubbed surface is oxidized by mere physical contact
- The wear resulting from lamination, where periodic stresses create a surface fatigue and cracks at the surface or under the surface layer
All of these worn cases can permanently be prevented implementing one of the LUBODRY® dry lubricant processes.
SEAL THE POROSITY OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Composite materials are known for their excellent mechanical properties even at high temperatures. Composite materials are widely used by the aeronautics, space and nuclear industries, where the parts and equipments are subject to very high thermomechanical stresses. However, the inherent porosity of industrial parts made of composite materials could harm their strong initial resistance. Here, porosity is due to incomplete densification of the fibrous preform and results in the presence of pores within the composite materials and which communicate with each other. If composite materials generally have a satisfactory mechanical strength, their inherent porosity jeopardizes in some cases the mechanical resistance of parts. Now, industry players are seeking solutions to improve the mechanical strength of their industrial parts and equipments made of thermostructural composite materials.
Our LUBODRY® G (Graphite) process therefore offers a solution to reinforce locally industrial parts made of porous composite materials, wherein Graphite micro-particles come and fill in the pores at the surface of the composite materials. The LUBODRY® G (Graphite) process also provides for better abrasion resistance of the composite materials against metal parts.
LUBODRY® G (Graphite) is a high-precision process which allows treatment of a portion only of an industrial part, subject to greater mechanical stresses than the rest of the part / equipement. Our proprietary Graphite micro-particles impingement process is self-limiting and only impinge the required quantity of Graphite microparticles into the surface of the substrate. Therefore it has no significant impact on the weight of your industrial parts.
SOLVING SEIZING ISSUES
Seizing problems are frequently encountered in the threaded applications, such as screw-nut systems, and greatly reduce industries’ productivity. Besides the impact on productivity during assembly operations, repairs are long and costly operations. The seizing phenomenon is mainly due to the heating of industrial fasteners during too rapid screwing operations, to the fretting-corrosion caused by vibrations, and to rust resulting from operations in salt spray environments.
The parts become impossible to disassemble without damaging or destroying any of the fasteners. The LUBODRY® dry lubricant processes are effective, sustainable and economic ways to permanently solve your seizing issues:
- Micro-particles molecularly bonded to your parts
- No additional thickness at the surface of your parts nor within the thread cavities
- Cover precise aeras of your which should not be processed (precision process)
- No seizures during high-velocity screwing operations of fasteners and screw-nets systems
- Ease your disassembly operations performed under stress conditions such as high temperatures, high pressures, chemical atmospheres, vibrations, etc.
- Reduced assembly costs
