SILICONE AND ELASTOMERS SELF LUBRICATION

On 16-01-2012

ALL YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT MATERIALS SELF-LUBRICATION

In order to facilitate mounting or assembling of rubber parts or electrical contacts, lubrication of parts in contact can be necessary.
Several difficulties can occur :
- chemical compatibility between lubricant and parts
- lubricant quantity and application
Self-lubricated materials can be more appropriate. This type of material will also have the advantage of preventing certain parts to stick together or onto another one also friction will decrease.
The product which will give to rubber a sliding effect is "non compatible" and incorporated during mixing operations in compound's mass.
Non compatibility of certain oils, soaps or waxes towards basical elastomers is used to get a "self-lubrication" property.
Quantity of these products can only be limited, as if incorporated in too large proportion, they just would not mix and would destroy compound's mechanical properties.
After vulcanisation, the mixed product will move from inside to part's surface, and will come out.
Self-lubricated parts finish varies according to age and is visible after some days or weeks.

More or less oily appearance does not depend exclusively from the % of oil content in the product. Compound type, hardness and structure will also make this appearance change.
Also initial % at compounding + temperature + time + atmosphere pressure influence this phenomena.