What is Tungsten Disulphide and how its crystal structure differs from other solid lubricants?
Tungsten Disulphide, also known as WS2, is a synthetic powder with chemical formula WS2. The microstructure of WS2 crystals is a layered hollow sphere with hexagonal crystal clusters, lamellar lattice structure, whose layers are bound by weak Van der Walls Forces. This weak binding force is easily sheared between the layers, resulting in a very low coefficient of friction. Tungsten Disulfide is one of most lubricious materials known to science.
Why tungsten disulfide dry film lubricant is a widely accepted coating of choice?
There are some factors that make tungsten disulfide the coating of choice in many applications including spaceflight, aerospace, military, semiconductor, medical device, automotive and more. Tungsten disulfide lubricant possesses certain significant advantages over many other classic inorganic solid lubricants; some of the attributes are listed below.
- Components with a Tungsten Disulfide Coating can achieve a coefficient of friction as low as 0.03 dynamic and 0.07 static.
- Tungsten Disulfide Coating is compatible with a wide temperature range, at atmospheric pressures it can withstand temperatures of -450degF to +1200degF and in vacuum atmospheres the temperature range is -305degF to +2400degF.
- Additionally, tungsten disulfide coating can withstand extreme pressures, up to 300,000 psi in some applications. Tungsten Disulfide Coating is virtually non-outgassing in vacuum environments.
Micro Surface Corporation exploits WS2 per Process SL-39 in the coating process
At Micro Surface Corporation in San Jose, CA, we offer premium tungsten disulfide coating services utilizing our proprietary WS2 per Process SL-39. Tungsten Disulfide Coating is applied using state of the art equipment by our skilled technicians.
A Brief on the Coating Process
The tungsten disulfide coating process happens at room temperature and requires no resins, binders or curing. Once the WS2 is properly applied, it will not crack or peel and becomes a part of substrate. With dimensional build up of only 0.5 microns (0.00002”), tungsten disulphide will not affect normal machine tolerances, making it the lubricant of choice for many precision applications such as:
- Radial ball bearings
- Linear bearings
- Assembly fasteners
Besides the above listed applications, the lubricant is applicable to many more applications where the reduction of friction and wear, elimination of galling and fretting and service life extension are desirable.