MOLY GREASE ADDITIVE: MOLYBDENUM DISULPHIDE

Speciality grease manufacturers add the moly grease additive molybdenum disulphide as a solid lubricant additive. Specifically, they use molybdenum disulphide for its boundary lubricant properties. Indeed, boundary lubricants prevent damage under extreme pressure conditions, when surfaces make direct physical contact with each other.

In normal use, a grease uses its honeycomb lattice of soap (or thickener) to hold pockets of liquid oil next to the surface of a moving part. In this instance, the oil transmits pressure and keeps surfaces that are moving relative to each other apart and allows movement without much friction.

By contrast, under extreme pressure conditions, the oil film breaks from time to time. Under those circumstances, with no oil film separating them, the surfaces in relative motion make contact. Solid molybdenum disulphide, as the moly grease additive, provides a slippery barrier between the rougher surfaces. Furthermore, with its high compression strength, it allows any raised areas of the surfaces beneath it to plastically deform and to become smooth.

The super fine powder moly grease additive coats the surfaces of moving parts and the surfaces of contaminant abrasive particles. As a result of the small particle size, it also fills indentations in surfaces and builds up into a smooth, low friction coating on solid surfaces. Furthermore, the moly grease additive can greatly increase the weld load.

MOLY GREASE APPLICATIONS

For engineering purposes, users classify moly grease as a speciality product. However, the automobile industry, mining equipment, transport, aerospace & military, and construction industries use significant quantities.

The main users of moly grease require a lubricant that performs well under high load, or shock loading conditions. In these circumstances, the moly grease additive helps to prevent “welding”.

When a lubricant reaches its failure load, the surfaces of the parts in contact heat up, due to friction, and seize up. In this situation, the solid surfaces plastically deform together into a weld, which can cause catastrophic damage. The moly grease additive helps to prevent this from happening. For this reason, many applications specify moly grease for lubricating high speed bearings, and aerospace combustion starter gears.

Many industries use moly grease for extreme lubrication conditions. Moreover, these conditions include high temperatures, and dusty or gritty environments. Consequently, the mining and construction industries require moly grease to lubricate off-road equipment, such as cranes, excavators, and trucks.

MARKETS

The main markets for moly grease, by industry sector, are:

  • Automobiles, and transport
  • Construction equipment
  • Mining equipment
  • Industrial equipment
  • Aerospace lubrication

The main geographical markets for moly grease are:

  • Asia Pacific
  • North America Region
  • Europe

Additionally, the Middle East North Africa, and Latin America markets expect to see future growth.

For more information on our molybdenum disulphide moly grease additive, see our Products and Applications page or Contact Us