When is a graphited lubricant better than a conventional one?

When temperatures are high, dry starts occur, dust/moisture is present, or oil may evaporate. The graphite film remains as residual solid lubrication on chains, guides, shafts, and open mechanisms.

Which product do you recommend for conveyor chains?

LUBRICHAIN and GRAFOLUB form an adherent film with graphite microbeads for chains in ovens, paint lines, mining, and logistics. GRAFOGREASE covers grease points that need graphited grease.

What is GRAFOLUB and what is it for?

GRAFOLUB is a dual-action graphited oil (liquid + solid). It leaves a graphite-microbead film on shafts, bushings, chains, and open gears when conventional oil evaporates or degrades.

Why does graphite lubricate without being a liquid?

Because of its layered structure: carbon planes slide over one another under low shear. The lubrication comes from that internal sliding of the material, not from a fluid film that must be maintained.

When is dry lubrication preferable to liquid?

Dry solves where liquid cannot hold: high temperature, vacuum, cleanliness requirements, or dusty environments. Where oil works and also cools or flushes particles, it is usually the simpler and more economical option.

In which presentations is it available?

As powder, dispersion, aerosol, paste, and lubricating paint. The presentation is chosen by application method and by whether lubrication must be permanent or periodically renewed.

Does humidity affect graphite behaviour?

The environment affects film formation and stability. That is why working conditions — humidity included — are stated during product selection and verified in a trial before generalizing use.

Dry graphite powder lubrication on a metal sliding surface

Lubrication applications

Dry lubrication

It acts as a solid lubricant in applications where oils or greases cannot be used.

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Solid lubrication principle

Also known as: Dry graphite lubrication · Graphite solid lubricant · Oil-free lubrication · Dry lubricating film

[ Technical summary ]

Graphite lubricates through its layered structure: sheets of carbon atoms slide over one another under low shear, so the film reduces friction without needing a fluid. That is the fundamental difference from oils and greases, which depend on maintaining a liquid film and fail when temperature, vacuum, or process cleanliness rule it out. This page gathers the principle; each specific application has its own format and method.

[ Problem it solves ]

Lubricate where a liquid film cannot be sustained — because of temperature, vacuum, or cleanliness requirements — without giving up friction reduction between contacting surfaces.

Processes

Dry lubrication

Operating conditions

High temperature
Clean or contaminant-sensitive environments

When it is suitable

Temperature degrades conventional oils and greases
The process cannot tolerate contamination by a liquid lubricant
The point works in vacuum or controlled atmosphere
A dusty environment turns grease into an abrasive

When it may not be suitable

The contact needs the lubricant to carry away heat or particles
The part tolerates no black residue and there will be no later cleaning stage
The point accepts liquid lubrication and that is more economical

Process challenges

Liquid lubricant failure
Seizing / scoring
Oil contamination

Advantages

Works without a liquid film
Thermal stability
Multiple presentations (powder, aerosol, or paint)

Limitations

Not a hydrodynamic oil lubricant
May stain light-colored surfaces
Performance depends on surface preparation and reapplication

[ Critical selection variables ]

These variables define the grade and the geometry. Actual values are confirmed against the grade datasheet.

Operating temperatureDecisive
Load and its distributionDecisive
Atmosphere (air, inert, vacuum)Relevant
Sliding speedRelevant
Application methodRelevant
Humidity and ambient conditionsRelevant
Substrate or surface to be treatedRelevant

[ Required material properties ]

Properties that guide selection. Numerical values come from each grade's datasheet.

Critical properties

Lubricating film formation
Friction coefficient
Thermal stability
Particle size distribution

Secondary properties

Self-lubrication
Wear resistance

[ Related ]

[ Frequently asked questions ]

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Technical content reviewed by ESGRAF — Last reviewed: September 8, 2026

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