Kuivavoitelun

Kuivavoitelun, a Finnish term often translated as dry lubrication or solid lubrication, refers to the application of lubricating substances that are solid at room temperature. Unlike traditional liquid or grease lubricants, these dry lubricants form a thin film on surfaces, reducing friction and wear without the need for a liquid carrier. Common examples of dry lubricants include graphite, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known as Teflon), and tungsten disulfide (WS2).

These solid lubricants function by creating a low-friction layer between moving parts. Their layered crystalline structures allow the layers to slide easily over one another. When applied, these materials adhere to the substrate surface, providing a durable lubricating film that can withstand extreme temperatures, high pressures, and vacuum conditions where liquid lubricants might evaporate or break down.

Dry lubrication finds application in various demanding environments. It is used in aerospace for components exposed to vacuum and extreme temperatures, in automotive industries for parts like dry-clutch facings, and in precision instruments where contamination from liquid lubricants is undesirable. It can be applied as a powder, a dispersion in a binder (forming a dry film coating), or integrated into composite materials. The effectiveness of kuivavoitelun depends on proper surface preparation and the correct selection of the dry lubricant for the specific operating conditions.