Dry Lubricants and Corrosion

This paper discusses dry film lubricants from the standpoint of use by the military services, the Army in particular. For military purposes, a dry film lubricant is defined as a solid material which reduces friction and wear and at the same time provides corrosion protection. A summary of the types of dry lubricants and their desirable characteristics is given along with a discussion of the factors affecting the efficiency of the dry film lubricants.

Recent work on the development of a dry film lubricant with a long wear life and corrosion protective properties is discussed. This work shows that graphite is not a desirable component in a dry film lubricant because it accelerates corrosion. The paper lists general applications for dry film lubricants and specific Ordnance applications, such as on the XM34 Littlejohn Rocket Launcher.