Molybdenum is a natural mineral that has been used for centuries to improve the lubricity of mechanical parts. The mineral attracts itself to the metal surface, acting as an anti-wear surface coating. However, this additive is ineffective if it is not soluble in oil. It also requires a suitable lubricant to ensure it does not clog oil passages or filters.
Moly grease is used in almost every part of a heavy-duty vehicle. For example, manufacturers of automatic slack adjusters and U-joints specify that the grease contain 5% or less of molybdenum disulfide to prevent internal gearing from binding. However, using moly grease on slack adjusters may affect the performance of the equipment.
Molybdenum grease is a type of lubricant that has low friction and a high pressure-absorption capacity. It also provides protection against stick-slip and anti-corrosion properties. It is used in press-fit production of all types of machine elements. Moly grease also prevents gear pitting. It is an excellent lubricant for machine parts and is recommended for lubricating metal-to-metal contacts. It can also be used for lubricating threaded spindles and roller bearings.
Molybdenum disulfide is also a popular lubricant. It is a compound that is made up of molybdenum and sulfur atoms. This compound binds to metal surfaces via its sulfur atoms. As a result, asperities are prevented from contacting with the metal surfaces. Another common molybdenum lubricant is MoS2, which consists of particle sizes in the range of one to 100 um. Its sliding friction properties are very low, at 0.1 to 0.1 s.
