Bonded Solid Film Lubricants add Functionality to Aerospace Components

Bonded solid film lubricants have been used on aircraft and aerospace components since the early 1950s.  Advances in airframe and engine materials, design and operating conditions has driven significant advances in bonded solid film lubricant (SFL) technology.  The use of high strength alloys, the proliferation of composite materials, and higher operating temperatures have been major drivers in bonded SFL technology.  Ever changing regulatory requirements have also been a major driver to eliminate the use of heavy metals, high VOC coatings, and other regulatory hazards from all surface treatments including topical functional coatings.  Bonded SFLs provide a wide range of functionality including reducing friction and wear, providing more consistent torque tension relationships on fasteners, providing abrasion resistance, can be either electrically conductive or insulating, chemical and corrosion resistance, and preventing galvanic corrosion of dissimilar metals.  Further, bonded SFLs can be formulated to provide these various functions over a wide range of conditions including temperature extremes, radiation exposure, hard vacuum, corrosive environments, and humidity conditions.