A dry film lubricant (or solid film lubricant) forms a dry layer or film that prevents moisture from passing through. In addition to friction-reduction, dry film lubricant also offers features such as shock or vibration dampening.

Some important properties of a dry film lube are density, specific gravity, thermal conductivity and dielectric strength. Dry film lubricants are the most suitable lubricants for high-pressure applications in the automotive, transportation and aerospace industries.

Some important parameters you must consider before purchasing a dry film lubricant are:

1. Chemical composition of the dry film lube
2. Properties of the dry film lube, including density and specific gravity
3. Average particle size of the dry film lube
4. Operating temperature ranges

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy dry film lubricants from lube manufacturers

Once you have identified your solid film lubrication requirements, look around for products available in the market.

I recommend: Everlube Products, a reputable dry film lube supplier, offers dry film lubes for various industries, such as aerospace, defense and automotive. If your dry film lubricating system needs quick drying lubes, you can buy a synthetic dry film lube from Henkel. Anoplate supplies dry film lubricants with additional features such as thermal conductivity and high chemical resistance. Furthermore, you can buy a dry film lubricant from McLube, a reputable manufacturer of industrial lubricants.

Buy dry film lubricants from a distributor or a retailer

You can compare solid and dry film lubricants based on their features and prices at distributors or retailers' websites.

I recommend: Rite-Kem, a reputable distributor of industrial chemical equipment and specialty products, supplies lubricant fluids, including dry film lubricants. You can buy a solid film lubricant at Acculube, a distributor of industrial chemicals from different manufacturers such as Castrol, ExxonMobil and PetroCanada. Ellsworth Adhesives is another distributor of industrial lubricants, including dry film lubes. Furthermore, you can also browse through different lubricants at Duncan Industrial Solutions.

Buy solid film lubricants for specialty applications

For non-standard dry film lubricating requirements, you need to use specialty dry film lubes. For example, combustion engines need a dry film lubricant that can sustain extreme pressure and temperature ranges.

I recommend: ExxonMobil, a major oil company and leading lube manufacturer, provides specialty lubes, including dry film lubes. Schaeffer Manufacturing supplies dry film lubes suitable for equipment such as furnaces, ovens and kilns. For extreme pressure applications such as extrusion and drawing machines, you can buy dry film lubes at Anti-Seize Technology. Furthermore, M.K. Impex Canada, another reputable lube manufacturer, offers dry film lubes suitable for high temperature and high-pressure applications such as racing car engines and valve components.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For outdoor and foundry applications, you can use dry film lubricants that are dust resistant.
• •  For solid film lubrication applications in the food processing industry, make sure your dry film lubes meet regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).