elastomerflyer eng.qxd
02.09.2005
15:47
Seite 1
The clean and flexible solution
Solid film lubricants for elastomers
The need for lubricating elastomer seals as an assembly aid,
together with the reduction of friction in dynamic processes,
is beyond doubt. In the past this was primarily undertaken by
classic lubricants (e.g. oils, greases) whereas in recent years dry
lubrication with solid film lubricants has acquired increasing
significance in this field.
One of the main benefits for using a solid film lubricant (SFL)
is the ability to coat mass-produced parts. So it is possible to
dispense with the preliminary work (oiling, greasing), which is
often carried out manually, during assembly of the components. Additionally coating with solid film lubricants leads to
clean and dry surfaces of the coated parts.
Application
The areas of application for solid film lubricants are numerous
and range from the coating of O-rings, shaft sealing rings as
an assembly aid to the coating of elastomeric components in
motor vehicles and in sealing elements for valves and fittings.
Nearly all rubber materials (e.g. NBR, EPDM, ACM, VMQ) can
be coated with solid film lubricants.
Our comprehensive range of services
in the field of SFL-coatings
■ Technical advice about lubricants
■ Sample coating of components
■ Custom coating in our own gleitmo-bond coating centre
■ Know-how transfer with regard to coating technology
■ Service analysis by our R&D department
■ Tailor-made development of products
02.09.2005
15:47
Seite 2
Zeitzen-Mathieu
elastomerflyer eng.qxd
Solid film lubricants for elastomers
The clean and flexible solution
Properties
400
The solid film lubricant is a tenacious surface finish which
preserves the dynamic properties of the basic material.
As a result of the solid lubricants bonded within the coating a decrease in the coefficient of friction of the sealing
material occurs, which is shown by the reduction of the
assembling forces (fig. 1).
NBR-elastomer uncoated
NBR-elastomer coated with solid-film
Press-in force [N]
300
200
Maximum of
assembling force
100
For components moving dynamically, FUCHS
LUBRITECH's solid film lubricants prevent the occurrence
of „stick-slip“ and thus avoid the generation of „squeaking“ (fig 2).
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
Sliding distance [mm]
Fig. 1: Press-in forces resulting during assembly of an uncoated
O-ring (material NBR Sh 70) compared with an O-ring coated
with a solid film lubricant (counterpart: steel, press-in speed:
100 mm/min).
8
Elastomer uncoated
Elastomer with solid film lubricant gleitmo 985
In addition to a reduction of friction, a solid film lubricant
coating provides significant wear reduction of the parts,
which can lead to leakages already during assembly of
the sealing elements. But also dynamically stressed components can be protected against wear by using solid
film lubricants (fig. 3).
Friction force [N]
6
In addition to their outstanding mechanical-dynamic properties, FUCHS LUBRITECH's solid film lubricants are
resistant to many substances (e.g. water, fuel, mineral
oil), which come in contact with the component as a
result of environmental influences or technical liquids.
4
2
0
0
10
20
30
40
Sliding distance [mm]
Wear [mg weight loss]
Fig. 2: Elimination of „stick-slip“ on an EPDM elastomer coated
with gleitmo 985 solid film lubricant (test method according to
DIN 53375).
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
EPDM uncoated
1000 test cycles
EPDM coated with
gleitmo SFL 9460
5000 test cycles
Application
Coating of the components with gleitmo solid film lubricants is carried out using commercial application processes, which permit the coating of mass-produced parts
(e.g. dipping, tumbling etc.). Depending on the type of
solid film lubricant used it may be necessary to preheat
the components in order to speed up curing. Thus a tenacious dry coating a few microns thick remains on the
surface. The release properties of the coating permits
easy separation of the parts and the adherence of possible contaminants can be avoided. Most of the solid film
lubricants are provided with a UV active pigment, so that
after coating a control can be carried out with the aid of
an ultraviolet light.
10000 test cycles
FUCHS LUBRITECH GMBH
Werner-Heisenberg-Straße 1
67661 Kaiserslautern
Internet www.fuchs-lubritech.com
Phone +49 (0) 6301 3206-0
Fax
+49 (0) 6301 3206-940
E-Mail [email protected]
0,5’ Zd 08/05 0601710
Fig. 3: Abrasion occurring on an uncoated elastomer test sample
(material EPDM Sh 60) compared with a test sample coated with
a solid film lubricant during testing of abrasion resistance while
varying the test cycles (test method according to DIN 11998,
dry, load 500 g).