Lead-Free Dry Film Lubricants
(Propulsion Environmental Working Group)
Project Number: S-95-SP-007

Turbine engine manufacturers apply DFLs to components of engines to prevent galling, fretting, and seizing at temperatures up to 1400°F. DFLs also aid in assembly of engines by providing lubrication and protecting against nicks and scratches. These DFLs are applied to a wide variety of metal substrates. Many of the DFLs currently used by turbine engine manufacturers contain lead or other materials that cause environmental or health concerns, such as VOCs, antimony, cadmium, and carcinogenic chemicals. The JG-PP Lead-Free DFL project is intended to reduce worker exposure to and disposal of HazMats by identifying and validating more environmentally friendly DFLs that meet performance requirements.

This project was being pursued in partnership with the PEWG, a tri-service forum established to help resolve environmental issues common to aircraft engine users and manufacturers. Rolls-Royce Allison, Honeywell, General Electric Aircraft Engines, and P&W-UTC participate in PEWG and in this project. Additional stakeholders for this project include government purchasing managers, DoD turbine engine experts, program managers for DoD aircraft engines and other turbine engines, and the laboratory owners of existing military specifications for DFLs.

The project stakeholders defined a JTP to verify the performance of alternative DFLs. Nine candidate alternative DFLs were originally selected for testing, and six of these have been eliminated to date. E/M 1380B and Everlube 10030 have identical compositions, thus E/M 1380B was eliminated from further testing. Alseal 333 and Tiolube 29 were eliminated because of their performance in dry tape adhesion and solvent rub tests. Alseal 360, Surf-Kote LOB-1800G Class A, and X-204 Solid Film Lubricant were eliminated from testing because of their performances in fluid resistance and thermal shock stability tests. Sliding wear testing of Everlube 812, and Everlube 10030/853 has been completed and the data is being analyzed. Humidity testing was performed to address concerns with potential rehydration. Tiolube 614-T9B has been qualified as a viable alternative for antiseize applications.

To view the Final Report dated January 2005, please click here.

This site last updated February 28, 2008.