Some plastic gears can be embedded with lubricating materials such as ptfe silicone or graphite.
Plastic on plastic lubricant.
Similar to metal components proper lubrication can extend the operating life and efficiency beyond using no lubricant at all.
However plastics are a special case for two reasons.
Lubricants are used in plastics mainly to reduce friction between the processing machinery and the plastic materials.
Standard petroleum based lubricants cannot be used for plastic gears and some plastic gears are designed to be used without lubricants.
Tips for lubricating plastic parts quick overview lubricants improve the performance and life of gears bearings slides and other plastic parts if they are formulated specifically for lubricating plastic components.
Another reason which may not be apparent is the reduction of friction between the molecules of the plastic materials.
This quick study contains tips that will help you choose the best lubricant for your plastic part with special notes on gears.
Table 1 gives general compatibility guidelines.
Machinery parts and components made from plastic can be an easier and more cost effective alternative to traditional metal parts for some applications.
It works especially well on porous items such as plastic parts but is a good lubricant on locks hinges and guns.