Dry lubricants, popularly known as "dry lubes," are solids that serve as lubricants. They are primarily sold in powder or chalk forms, and are often used in automobiles, bicycles and industrial equipment.
Dry lubes are used in situations in which liquid lubricants would damage or impair the function of equipment. They also offer lubrication in extreme temperatures where normal lubricants would either freeze or melt/break apart. Popular uses include cars, bicycles, locks and a variety of industrial equipment.
One specific type of dry lubricant, hexagonal boron nitride, is used in satellites and spaceships. Because it can lubricate equipment at both subzero temperatures and at 900 degrees Celsius, it is one of the few substances that agencies like NASA can use for industrial lubrication.
A number of products may be used as dry lubricants. Besides boron nitride, some other popular options include hexagonal graphite, metal sulphide, chlorofluorcarbon (CFC), halogenated fluorocarbon (HFC) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). There are even "low-tech" dry lubricants; wax and paraffin may be used as dry lubricants for some industrial applications.
