Plastic On Plastic Lubricant

However plastics are a special case for two reasons.

Plastic on plastic lubricant. Another reason which may not be apparent is the reduction of friction between the molecules of the plastic materials. Tips for lubricating plastic parts quick overview lubricants improve the performance and life of gears bearings slides and other plastic parts if they are formulated specifically for lubricating plastic components. This quick study contains tips that will help you choose the best lubricant for your plastic part with special notes on gears. Table 1 gives general compatibility guidelines.

Standard petroleum based lubricants cannot be used for plastic gears and some plastic gears are designed to be used without lubricants. As with all things silicone has its dark side. Incompatible plastic lubricant combinations often cause operating problems such as stress cracking or failure of the plastic component. Because silicone oil is super slippery and minimally reactive it can lubricate most anything.

Lubricants are used in plastics mainly to reduce friction between the processing machinery and the plastic materials. Machinery parts and components made from plastic can be an easier and more cost effective alternative to traditional metal parts for some applications.