Automotive Lubricants from Molykote
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60 Years of Smart LubricationTM Since 1948, many of the world’s most demanding lubrication chal­ lenges have been successfully met with Smart LubricationTM pro­ vided by Molykote® brand lubricants. Sometimes called “miracle lubes,” Molykote lubricants were initially based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and have expanded to include a wide range of solutions from mineral oils to synthetics. The common elements in all products are lubrication expertise and trusted performance. This is the story of a thriving 60-years-young business, born from centuries-old discoveries. Molybdenum Discoveries The story begins more than 250 years ago, when the lubricating properties of an unknown ore were noted in 1744 by Johann Alexander Cramer in Elementa artis docimasticae (Elements of ore analysis). The ore was similar to lead, galena and graphite, and these substances were labeled with the Greek word “molybdos,” meaning lead-like. He wrote: “Therefore, workers burnish their presses and other instruments with molybdena instead of soap, partly to make them easier to slip.” In 1778, a Swedish scientist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, identified molybdenite as the sulfide of a distinct metallic element by heating it to yield a white oxide powder. At his suggestion, Peter Jacob Hjelm, another Swedish chemist, successfully isolated the metal in 1782 and named it

These discoveries remained curiosities, since molybdenum occurred in a natural state only chemically combined with other elements. When extraction of commercial quantities became practical more than 100 years later around 1890, the first uses of the ore were as a substitute for tungsten in strengthening steels. World War I severely strained the supply of the metal, and a molybdenum company was formed to begin mining and processing a huge deposit found years earlier in the U.S. Colorado mountains. Today, significant molybdenum resources are available throughout the world, and the U.S.,...

Sonntag proceeded to publish various papers on the effectiveness of Molykote products for uses where conventional lubricants failed. The lubricants supported extremely high loads, withstood high and low temperatures, prevented fretting under static loads, stopped high wear rates, prevented seizure between similar metals and provided long-lasting lubrication in dusty, abrasive environments where the day’s more typical lubricating oils and greases collected grit and acted as grinding compounds. Some first products included Molykote powders for use in plastics, sinter bearings and...

laboratory. Molykote KG also partnered with Alfred Sonntag and established production facilities in the basement of a former restaurant. By the end of the decade, Molykote GmbH served more than 12,000 customers and had close partnering relations with 19 foreign distributors. 1960s Bring Growth & Change Entering the 1960s, Alpha Molykote was strong and enjoying considerable sales growth in Europe, driven primarily by Molykote GmbH. This aggressive marketing partner held numerous engineering seminars, came up with the idea for Molykote G-Rapid Spray – the first MoS2 lubricant paste in an...

Silicones Fuel Brand Expansion Significant changes and continued sales growth took place throughout the 1970s, as Dow Corning’s globalization deepened and marketing strengthened. One major change occurred when the company’s silicone-based lubricants were consolidated into and promoted with the Molykote brand name. Other changes for growth involved marketing Molykote products to the South American automotive industry. In Europe, silicone greases gained strength and the Munich operations began making their first silicone lubricants. In Japan, Fuji Kobunshi replaced Mitsubishi as the Molykote...

More Opportunities Open in the ‘90s Even more success came to the Molykote brand in the 1990s. The huge, untapped markets of Eastern Europe opened. And, a Molykote book was published with over 40 years of Molykote knowledge for the world’s engineers and technicians. Both events greatly expanded opportunities for the brand. In the early-90s, the Dow Corning Kabushiki Kaisha and Dow Corning Japan operations consolidated and were renamed Dow Corning Asia, as a wholly owned subsidiary. In the mid ‘90s, Dow Corning’s Wiesbaden site was expanded with new Molykote labs and production facilities...

Lubrication Program,” as it launched 42 new offerings in a well-rounded product line of synthetic oils as well as ultra-pure mineral oils in a broad range of viscosities. This line of non-MoS2 lubricants was primarily for use in industrial machinery, with some oils suited for applications involving food contact. In 2000, Dow Corning acquired its joint venture company in India and established a 100%-owned subsidiary to manufacture and trade Molykote and silicone-based specialty chemicals. The company established its enhanced manufacturing facilities in Pune in February 2006. Since 2005,...

We help you invent the future™ www.dowcorning.com How to contact us Dow Corning has sales office, manufacturing sites, as well as science and technology laboratories around the globe. For more information, visit www.dowcorning.com or www.molykote.com. LIMITED WARRANTY INFORMATION - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY The information contained herein is offered in good faith and is believed to be accurate. However, because conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control, this information should not be used in substitution for customer’s tests to ensure that Dow Corning’s products are...