Help Please - Lubricant for Acrylic?

Question

I would appreciate it if anyone could please share a recommendation for a lubricant for acrylic. I have an item where on piece of acrylic snaps into a channel cut into another piece of acrylic and would like to find an appropriate lubricant that will minimize wear and friction. I have used WD40 as an experiment and it worked fairly well for a short-term test but I don't know 1) how long it would last/provide benefit and 2) if it has any adverse affect on the acrylic (e.g. swelling, breaks down the plastic over time).

Thanks!

Frank · Accepted Answer

You may find tech service help through this link to LuciteInternational

- · Answer

Ok, thanks for the suggestion.Doug

john.spevacek · Answer

Wd-40 should work for the most part, as it is mostly hydrocarbons (

formatting link

), which I would not consider as solvents (or swelling agents)for acrylic, except under high heat. You could also consider silicone oils, any of the various fluorocarbon sprays, or dry lubricants such as graphite, MoS2, ...

After your short term test, take the lubricated part out on a sunny day and look for crazing (microcracks) in the surface. Compare your sample with one that you've wiped with rubbing alcohol - which will quickly cause crazing.

John Aspen Research, -

formatting link

=93Turning Questions into Answers=94

Opinions expressed herein are my own and may not represent those of my employer.

Mike Henry · Answer

Will pure ethanol affect or react with acrylic?

Wd-40 should work for the most part, as it is mostly hydrocarbons (

formatting link

), which I would not consider as solvents (or swelling agents)for acrylic, except under high heat. You could also consider silicone oils, any of the various fluorocarbon sprays, or dry lubricants such as graphite, MoS2, ...

After your short term test, take the lubricated part out on a sunny day and look for crazing (microcracks) in the surface. Compare your sample with one that you've wiped with rubbing alcohol - which will quickly cause crazing.

John Aspen Research, -

formatting link

Questions into Answers?

Opinions expressed herein are my own and may not represent those of my employer.

- · Answer

Thanks for the information, Mike. I just bought some silicon lubricant spray and was going to try that. I will do the test you suggested with WD

40 and the silicon spray on the nice shiny side of the acrylic (I use a lot of the P95 with matte finish on one side) to see if micro cracks appear AND to see how long the lubricant lasts.

Thanks again.

john.spevacek · Answer

Keep in mind that these spays will have solvents as carrier solvents that evaporate leaving the real working lubricant behind. Either component could cause problems.

John Aspen Research, -

formatting link

=93Turning Questions into Answers=94

Opinions expressed herein are my own and may not represent those of my employer.

Help Please - Lubricant for Acrylic?

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?