5 replies to this topic

[Angry Face]

Hello, I'm an active member of another community about the spinning tops game, Beyblade. I was recently informed that a free-spinning part made out of polycarbonate and released exclusively by a particular brand might be coated in some kind of dry lubricant, possibly Teflon/PTFE. As such, I'd like to test the surface of this part for the presence of a dry lubricant, ideally without destroying the plastic. However, I have no idea how I might go about this process. I spoke with a friend about this and he recommended that I look to the Nerf community for assistance. With a little research, I found this forum, which, while being very informative on the effects of various types of lubricant on different plastics, I've been unable to locate any insight on how to determine the presence of dry lubrication, specifically Teflon/PTFE.

Please excuse me for posting a question rather unrelated to Nerf, but I was told that you guys are the most knowledgeable community when it comes to dry lubricants. Any and all help is very much appreciated, thank you.

[Daniel Beaver]

Take a look at Captain Slug's lubricant page, it might give you some guidance.

[Angry Face]

Take a look at Captain Slug's lubricant page, it might give you some guidance.

Thanks for the reply, Daniel!

I actually came across that same thread in my initial search, but this time I read the whole thing through. While it is indeed very beneficial to those seeking advice on what types of lubricant to use, I was unable to find any information on how to test for the presence of what I suspect is a dry, solid lubricant. Since it's also apparently invisible and leaves no trace, I think I should be looking into an indication process of the chemical variety.

[Zorns Lemma]

What color is the lubricant? The only white/clear ones I know of are either PTFE or Silicone, in which case you can test the difference with solubility (dry silicone lubricant is soluble in wet silicone lubricant).

Unfortunately, we don't really have experience here testing between types and more so just finding the most convenient ones to use that are plastic/rubber safe.

[Angry Face]

What color is the lubricant? The only white/clear ones I know of are either PTFE or Silicone, in which case you can test the difference with solubility (dry silicone lubricant is soluble in wet silicone lubricant).

Unfortunately, we don't really have experience here testing between types and more so just finding the most convenient ones to use that are plastic/rubber safe.

Oh, that's too bad. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

I think this thread should help you guys better understand what I'm up against. The orange variant is the one I'd be testing for the presence of a lubricant, whereas I'd like to spray an equivalent solidifying lubricating substance on each part of a brown one, test it, and compare its to the orange's previous results.

As I said before, though, I believe the difference in performance is due to a lubricant, but I need to find a way to test that theory. Can either PTFE or silicone be clear? Because while there is certainly nothing white about the orange variant initially, the plastic at areas of contact do begin to appear slightly "frosted" after heavy use.

Edited by Angry Face, 06 July 2014 - 09:17 PM.

[Draconis]

As I said before, though, I believe the difference in performance is due to a lubricant, but I need to find a way to test that theory. Can either PTFE or silicone be clear? Because while there is certainly nothing white about the orange variant initially, the plastic at areas of contact do begin to appear slightly "frosted" after heavy use.

Plastics hazing or frosting is a sign that the lubricant and/or carrier is incompatible with the plastic you are using. Silicone can absolutely be clear. I am nearly certain that PTFE is always opaque and naturally whitish. Usually lubricants containing PTFE require thorough mixing before application, because the material is always a solid in suspension, never actually dissolved.