Info You Can Use
Like with many products, it is sometimes very difficult to tell what is in the packaging.
How does it really look?
How does it really perform?
Is it enough for what I need?
Ultimately, am I getting the best value?
Most agree that one cannot necessarily judge a book by its cover. This is very true when it comes to graphite lubricants in the marketplace. All aerosol and paint cans look the same, but the contents inside can be extremely different.
Asbury Carbons® reviewed and tested nine (9) graphite dry film lubricants in the marketplace to see what we might find.
SLIP Plate® branded products are the original, premium dry film graphite lubricants trusted for almost 40 years in commercial, industrial, and household applications.
What’s inside your can of graphite?
Not all graphite dry lubricants are the same
Perception is not everything. How much is really in the can?
Reality counts. What's inside the can?
How much graphite is really in there?
What kind of graphite is it?
Graphite is much more than just what is in your No. 2 pencil. It is mined throughout the world and it can be extremely expensive depending on the type of graphite and its purity. For example, vein and flake type graphites are the most lubricious grades compared to amorphous and synthetic graphites. In general, more lubricious grades of graphites are typically more expensive. Also, manufacturers can further process these grades of graphite to be more resilient and lubricious.
So, just because there are high percent solids, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a higher grade of graphite or even if it is all graphite. Inert additives can make the product seem like there is more when it is still really lacking the anti-friction property of graphite. The best way to tell the difference is to look at the product performance.
The proof is in the performance
Another factor that governs graphite coating performance is the type and amount of binder. The binder is the “glue” that allows the graphite to stick to the surface and to itself. Finding the right balance is important as it could mean poor performance. Too little binder would simply allow the graphite to blow off allowing rust to occur where too much binder might hinder the lubricity.
There are several tests that laboratories use to evaluate the performance characteristics of graphitic coatings as recognized by the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). The choice of graphite materials with its coating formulation will dictate the effectiveness and long-lasting nature of the lubricant. A water resistance test looks at signs of rust corrosion after three (3) days; this is a pass/fail test. A crosshatch adhesion test looks at the strength of the graphite coating material sticking to a metal surface. A score of 5B is good adhesion and 1B is poor. The water and solvent rub tests evaluate the durability of the graphite coating before bare metal is visible. Lastly, a friction test under a heavy load of friction determines the “slipperiness” of the material before the material is worn and the coating fails. The best graphite dry lubricant would be the one with the highest marks in these tests and therefore would imply how well it would work in your application. Below is a table that summarizes laboratory performance testing on dry film graphite products.
| Product Brand | Net Weight | % Solids | H20 Resistance | Water Rub (50 max)1 | Solvent Rub (50 max)2 | Xhatch Adhesion3 | Friction test @ 22500 psi4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 5.5 oz | 1.8% | Fail | 1 | 1 | 1B | 1400 sec |
| B | 10 oz | 0.9% | Fail | 50 | 1 | 5B | 1300 sec |
| C | 10 oz | 1.5% | Fail | 1 | 1 | 1B | N/A |
| D | 10.5 oz | 0.7% | Pass | 1 | 1 | 5B | 1000 sec |
| E | 10.5 oz | 0.8% | Fail | 1 | 1 | 1B | N/A |
| F | 11 oz | 25.2% | Pass | 50 | 6 | 5B | 700 sec |
| G | 12 oz | 1.6% | Fail | 50 | 2 | 1B | 1750 sec |
| H | 12 oz | 41.9% | Pass | 50 | 50 | 5B | 1250 sec |
| SLIP Plate® | 12 oz | 21.4% | Pass | 50 | 22 | 5B | 2400 sec |
1 ASTM D4752
2 ASTM D4752
3 ASTM D3359
4 ASTM G99 Estimated force based on test surface area on all products
Conclusion
Choosing the right lubricant can extend the life of your devices, prevent a mess, and reduce re-application. A little research can offer you a great return in terms of maintenance and efficiency.
SLIP Plate® branded products are the original, premium dry film graphite lubricants trusted for almost 40 years in commercial, industrial, and household applications.
Understanding Dry-Film Versus Oil Lubricants.
When Do You Use Them?
Applications for lubricants are endless and it is important to know when best to use a dry-film lubricant over an oil-based lubricant or vice versa. Factors to consider include: re-lubrication cycles, temperature limitations, life expectancy, surface area, and environments (outdoors vs. closed-conditions). Let’s start with differentiating the two.
Oil film or wet lubricants are traditional oils
Oil film or wet lubricants are traditional oils and greases common to the market that are usually very easy to apply. Oil lubes manage friction extremely well under ambient and closed conditions. Depending on temperature, they provide the best coefficient of friction out of all the lubricants. Because they are liquid in nature, the lubricant can flow and migrate to very hard to reach places like chain linkages to provide relief from stress and wear. They are recommended for use in enclosed environments in order to avoid attracting and trapping particles such as sand, dirt, dust, and other foreign airborne debris. Once trapped, these contaminates will increase friction to cause excessive wear, increase noise, and produce thermal build-up resulting in premature part failure. Although messy, oil lubricants are preferred for controlling high friction situations and penetrating deeply into small crevices.
Dry film lubricants are solid lubricants
Dry film lubricants are solid lubricants such as graphite. They are wet when applied, but quickly dry to form a slippery and durable coating. These products are typically painted on to the surface by brush, spray, or aerosol application. Graphite is widely used in the market as a dry lubricant because of its unique flat molecular structure allowing it to easily slide with itself like a deck of cards. Other dry lubricants are available in the marketplace, but they are typically more expensive.
Why choose oil lubricants over dry lubricants?
There are several reasons someone would choose oil lubricants over dry lubricants. Again, oil lubrication works best for applications that require a very low friction. The coefficient of friction of dry lubricants will be higher than petroleum-based lubricants. Because of its ability to flow, oil lubricants can easily migrate to different areas of the part. Very light oils or low viscosity oils can reach into very difficult to reach places. Once applied, the effects are very immediate.
On the other hand, dry film lubricants are preferred under certain conditions due to their properties as a solid. Dry film lubricants will wear away over time but at a much slower rate compared to oil based lubricants. Since a dry film lubricant can adhere like a paint, the lubricant is bonded to the surface making it difficult for water to simply wash away. Oil lubricants can float to the surface in the presence of water because of its lower density to point that the part can be without lubrication.
Another advantage of dry lubricants is that it will not attract and trap dust, grit, sand, dirt, mud that can lead to increased friction and part failures. Just think of throwing some sand on a surface coated with oil and another with a dry lube. Which one would the sand stick to? For this reason, dry lubricants are ideal to create slippery non-stick surfaces.
In the case of SLIP Plate® products, the solid film of graphite lubricant will perform under temperature extremes. Once dry, the material will not change consistency in response to the outside weather temperature. Graphite is also a hydrophobic material. Simply put, it means that graphite is naturally water resistant and therefore, rain and snow easily repels from its surface making it ideal for outdoor environments.
Graphite is a natural mineral lubricant made of carbon and is an environmentally conscience alternative to petroleum-based wet film lubricants. While there are more eco-friendly oil-based products being introduced into the marketplace daily, traditional oil based lubricants still dominate the marketplace. These oils are typically synthetic and very difficult to break down in nature.
