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MOLYKOTE® 101 - Pastes

Paste Lubricants 101

MOLYKOTE® has been the go-to industry provider for high-performance lubricant pastes for long-term protection. But when do you need a paste versus a grease or an oil? This article aims to clear the waters, making it easy to understand and select the right lubricant solution for your application.

What is a Paste Lubricant?

At the core, an anti-seize paste is a solid lubricant in an easier-to-apply form, typically with an oil carrier. Solid lubricants help prevent direct metal-on-metal connection, preventing long-term damage, seizure, pitting, and more. There are three primary components to a paste, the largest of which is the solid lubricant, usually 50% or more of the total formula. It is dispersed in a fluid mineral oil or synthetic oil, depending on the desired performance characteristics, and may include additional performance additives.

What are the solid lubricants used in MOLYKOTE® Pastes?

Molybdenum Disulfide (MOS2)
This solid lubricant exhibits exceptional performance, allowing a broad operating temperature range and incredibly high load-carrying capability. Solid moly also provides good adhesion to a variety of metal surface types and stable lubrication, even in the presence of oxygen.
  • Temperature range from −180°C to 450°C and up to 1100°C under a vacuum.
  • Load carrying up to 3,000 N/mm²
  • Good fretting protection (needs running-in)
  • Good chemical and radiation resistance
  • Low electrical conductivity
Graphite
This solid lubricant provides even greater high-temperature stability up to 600°C and exhibits shearing to aid in the lubrication protection layer. It is also synergistic with molybdenum, providing a powerful one-two punch for broader protection.
  • Temperature range: up to 600°C
  • High electrical conductivity
  • Good chemical stability
  • Poor adhesion on metal surfaces
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
This chemistry provides good chemical resistance and high-temperature stability up to 260°C. PTFE is also transparent and white in appearance, providing clean lubrication and protection compared to some of the other solid lubricant types.
  •  Temperature range: up to 260°C
  • Low electrical conductivity
  • Good chemical resistance
  • Low coefficient of friction
White Solids
This type of solid lubricant is a collection of mineral white solids containing metal oxides, hydroxides, sulfides, etc., that provide excellent fretting corrosion prevention.
  • Limited self-lubricating properties; requires oil to reduce friction
  • Forms a protective layer on metal surfaces

Typical Applications for an Anti-Seize Paste

There are many applications where an anti-seize paste is a superior lubricant solution compared to a grease or an oil. The applications best suited for a MOLYKOTE® paste are highly loaded equipment with low speeds.
 
Assembly & Run-in
Pastes are ideal lubricants for equipment assembly and initial run-in and startup time. The tacky nature of the material and solid lubricants help establish seated connections with a protective layer for long-term protection and operation.  Some of the premier MOLYKOTE® Pastes for assembly & run-in are listed below, for a full list of the assembly & run-in lubricants, visit our article here ►.

MOLYKOTE® G-N Metal Assembly Paste

Mineral oil based with Molybdenum and white solids (-18°C to 399°C).
Click Here to Learn More ►

MOLYKOTE® G-Rapid Plus

Mineral oil based with molybdenum disulfide, graphite, and white solids (-35°C to 450°C)
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MOLYKOTE® U-N

Polyakylene glycol (PAG) based with molybdenum and white solids (-40°C to 450°C)
Click Here to Learn More ►

Threaded Connections
Protecting screws and bolted connections is one of the most common applications for pastes. This allows for seizure protection on nuts and bolts for nondestructive disassembly and maintenance, even after long-term operation. This type of corrosion protection delivers the anti-seize performance required for stress-free operation and retightening bolted connections. 

MOLYKOTE® HSC Paste

Mineral oil based with molybdenum, copper, and white solids (-30°C to 1100°C).
Click Here to Learn More ►

MOLYKOTE® P-37

Mineral oil based with graphite and zirconium dioxide (-30°C to 1400°C)
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MOLYKOTE® 1000

Mineral oil based with graphite and copper (-30°C to 650°C)
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Continuous Lubrication
For equipment and applications where relubrication is not an option, pastes deliver long-term, semipermanent protection and high-temperature anti-seize. Equipment examples for continuous paste lubrication are planetary roller screws and slow-running plain bearings.

MOLYKOTE® DX Paste

Mineral oil based with zinc oxide for friction and wear protection (-13°C to 125°C).
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MOLYKOTE® TP-42

Mineral oil based with white solids (-25°C to 250°C)
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MOLYKOTE® P-1500

Semi-synthetic oil based with white solids (-50°C to 160°C)
Click Here to Learn More ►

How to Apply MOLYKOTE® Pastes

MOLYKOTE® anti-seize pastes come in a variety of package options to allow for tailored application methods for you and your team. These high-temperature anti-seize pastes can be used via brushing, spraying, dipping, and even automatic central lubrication systems. It is recommended to clean bolts or metal component surfaces and spread an adequate amount of the paste to obtain a good seal. The MOLYKOTE® pastes should not be mixed with other mineral oil greases or lubricants to avoid.
View the Entire MOLYKOTE® Paste Portfolio ►

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