Dry Lubrication

Boron Nitride is an excellent dry lubricant that maintains its lubricating properties even under extreme conditions.

Microstructure of solid lubricants

Solid lubricants have a platelet-like microstructure. Their low coefficient of friction is due to the fact that the platelets slide easily upon one another.

Microstructure of solid lubricants
Boron Nitride

Graphite

 MoS2 PTFE

Lubricating effect of Boron Nitride

Of all solid lubricants, hexagonal boron nitride has the highest temperature resistance in air: It can be permanently used at approx. 900°C. Other solid lubricants will suffer from oxidation at much lower temperatures: PTFE at above 250°C, molybdenum disulfide at above 315°C. Boron Nitride’s coefficient of friction remains virtually unchanged over a wide temperature range.

Coefficient of Friction
* adapted from: "Functional Fillers for Plastics" (Edited by Marino Xanthos, Wiley-VCH)

Boron Nitride is by far superior to other lubricants. This holds especially true at high temperatures in a vacuum or under a protective atmosphere (Graphite, for instance, will lose its lubricating properties in a vacuum due to lack of humidity).