Mil PRF 46010
Mil PRF 46010
Mil PRF 46010
SENSITIVE
MIL-PRF-46010H
13 November 2013
SUPERSEDING
MIL-PRF-46010G
06 August 2008
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION
This specification is approved for use by all Departments and Agencies of the Department of
Defense.
1. SCOPE
1.1 Scope. This specification establishes the requirements for a corrosion inhibiting heat
cured solid film lubricant that is intended to reduce wear and prevent galling, corrosion, and
seizure of metals (see 6.1). For aerospace component applications see 6.9 Notes.
1.3 Part or identifying number (PIN). The PIN to be used for lubricants acquired to this
specification are created as follows:
M - 46010 - X
Specification number
2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS
2.1 General The documents listed in this section are specified in sections 3, 4, or 5 of
this specification. This section does not include documents cited in other sections of this
specification or recommended for additional information or as examples. While every effort has
been made to ensure the completeness of this list, document users are cautioned that they must
meet all specified requirements of documents cited in sections 3, 4, or 5 of this specification,
whether or not they are listed.
FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS
FEDERAL STANDARDS
(Copies of the above these documents are available online at http://quicksearch.dla.mil or from
the Standardization Document Order Desk, 700 Robbins Ave, Bldg 4D, Philadelphia, PA
19111-5094.)
ASTM INTERNATIONAL
ASTM A108 - Standard Specification for Steel Bar, Carbon and Alloy,
Cold-Finished (DoD Adopted)
ASTM A167 - Standard Specification for Stainless and Heat-Resisting
Chromium-Nickel Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip (DoD
adopted)
ASTM B117 - Standard Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog)
Apparatus (DoD adopted)
ASTM B209 - Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy
Sheet and Plate
ASTM B244 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of
Anodic Coatings on Aluminum and of Other
Nonconductive Coatings on Nonmagnetic Basis Metals
with Eddy-Current Instruments (DoD adopted)
ASTM B499 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Coating
Thicknesses by the Magnetic Method: Nonmagnetic
Coatings on Magnetic Basis Metals (DoD adopted)
ASTM D1141 - Standard Practice for the Preparation of Substitute
Ocean Water (DoD adopted)
ASTM D1193 - Standard Specification for Reagent Water (DoD
adopted)
ASTM D1732 - Standard Practices for Preparation of Magnesium Alloy
Surfaces for Painting (DoD adopted)
SAE INTERNATIONAL
(Copies of these documents are available from www.sae.org or SAE Customer Service, 400
Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.)
2.4 Order of precedence. Unless otherwise noted herein or in the contract, in the event
of a conflict between the text of this document and the references cited herein, the text of this
document takes precedence. Nothing in this document, however, supersedes applicable laws and
regulations unless a specific exemption has been obtained.
3. REQUIREMENTS
3.1 Qualification. The lubricant furnished under this specification shall be products
which are qualified for listing on the applicable qualified products list at the time set for award of
bids (see 4.2 and 6.3). Any change in the formulation of a qualified product shall necessitate its
requalification.
3.2 Materials. Component materials used in the manufacture of this lubricant shall
consist essentially of finely powdered lubricating solids dispersed in a suitable liquid binder. The
lubricant shall be effective when applied by brushing, dipping, or spraying. The applied film
shall meet all requirements both after being cured for 1 hour at 204 ± 15°C and after being cured
for 2 hours at 150 ± 15°C. The curing time shall be counted from the time the part reaches the
cure temperature, not when the part is first subjected to heat. The lubricants shall contain no lead
or lead-containing compounds, ozone depleting substances, graphite, powdered metals, carbon
black, charcoal or other forms of inorganic carbon (see 6.5 and 6.10).
3.3 Film appearance and thickness. The bonded solid film lubricant, when examined as
specified in 4.5.1, shall appear uniform in color and shall be smooth, free from any cracks,
scratches, pinholes, blisters, bubbles, runs, sags, foreign matter, grit, rough particles, or
separation of ingredients. The coating thickness shall be between 0.008 mm and 0.013 mm. All
readings of the coating thickness shall be not less than 0.005 mm or greater than 0.018 mm.
3.4 Film adhesion. A bare metal surface shall not be exposed after lifting the tape when
tested as specified in 4.5. A uniform deposit of powdery material clinging to the tape shall be
considered acceptable.
3.5 Resistance to fluids. After immersion in each of the fluids as specified in Table I, no
bare metal surface shall be exposed after removing the tape as specified in 4.5. A uniform
deposit of powdery material clinging to the tape shall not be considered a failure. Also, the
bonded solid film lubricant shall not soften, lift, blister, crack, or peel after exposure to the fluids
when tested as specified in section 4.5.
3.6 Thermal stability. When tested as specified in 4.5, the solid film lubricant shall not
flake, crack, or lift and shall conform to the requirements for film adhesion (see 3.4).
3.7 Endurance life. When tested in four trials in accordance with 4.5, the bonded solid
film lubricant shall have an average endurance life at 1000 pounds load (lbf) of 450 minutes. All
individual tests shall be not less than 390 minutes.
3.8 Load carrying capacity. When tested in two trials in accordance with 4.5, the bonded
solid film lubricant shall have a load capacity of 2500 lbf (11,120 N). All individual tests shall
not be less than 2250 lbf (10,000 N).
3.9 Aluminum corrosion resistance. When subjected to heat and high humidity
conditions as specified in 4.5 on anodized aluminum panels, the bonded solid film lubricant shall
not show or cause discoloration, pitting, formation of white deposits, or other evidence of
corrosion.
3.10 Sulfurous acid - salt spray. When applied to steel panels and exposed to sulfurous
acid - salt spray in accordance with 4.5, there shall be no resultant pitting, visible corrosion, or
staining.
3.11 Salt - spray (fog) test. After being applied to steel panels, the lubricant shall show
not more than three rust spots per panel. Any spots shall be not greater than 1.0 mm in diameter,
after 100 hours exposure to a 5% salt spray solution in a salt fog cabinet in accordance with 4.5.
3.12 Solids content. The lubricant shall contain not less than 40 percent by weight of
solid material when tested in accordance with 4.5.2.
3.13 Storage stability. The fluid lubricant, after a minimum storage period as specified
in 4.5.3, shall conform to the requirements for endurance life, (see 3.7), the sulfurous acid - salt
spray, (see 3.10) and the salt-spray (fog) test (see 3.11) when tested in accordance with 4.5.
3.14 Volatile Organic Content. The lubricant shall contain not more than 250 g/L of
volatile organic content when tested as specified in 4.5.
3.15 Toxicity. The lubricant shall have no adverse effects on human health when it is
used as intended (see 6.1). Questions on toxicology shall be referred by the procuring activity to
the appropriate departmental medical service after consulting the qualifying activity (see 6.3).
3.16 Color. The lubricant supplied in Color 2 shall closely match color No. 37038 of
FED-STD-595, but shall be not lighter than color No. 36076 of FED-STD-595.
3.17 Workmanship. The bonded solid film shall appear uniform in color, smooth, free
from cracks, scratches, blisters, foreign matter, grit, rough particles, bubbles, pin holes, runs, or
sags. The lubricant film shall also show no evidence of separation of ingredient materials.
4. VERIFICATION
4.2 Qualification inspection. The qualification inspection shall consist of the tests in 3.3
through 3.14.
4.3 Conformance inspection. Conformance inspection shall consist of tests for the
following requirements:
4.4.1 Atmospheric conditions. Unless otherwise specified, all examinations and tests
shall be performed at a temperature of 25 ± 3°C and at a relative humidity between 30 and 70
percent.
4.4.2.1 Preparation of and application to test panels for solid film lubricant (aluminum
and corrosion resistant steel). The panels shall be made from:
The panels shall be pre-cleaned with aliphatic naphtha or any environmentally safe cleaner that
sufficiently cleans surfaces to pass ASTM F22. This cleaner shall not cause damage to the
surface being cleaned. The corrosion resistant steel panels shall have both faces and all edges
grit-blasted with 180 - 220 grit aluminum oxide. Application of the lubricant shall be performed
in a well-ventilated area or hood where no flame or ignition source is present. Only one side of
each panel shall be fully coated, except for two of the anodized aluminum panels which shall
have the lubricant applied to a 2.54 cm wide strip to enable measurement of the film thickness.
A spray application technique shall be used to coat the panels for the tests specified herein. The
solid film lubricant thickness alone (thickness tester zeroed to the blast profile or anodized
surface), when performed in accordance with 4.5 after cure, shall be 0.005 to 0.013 mm. The
desired film thickness shall be achieved with not greater than 3 coats. Air drying at 25 ± 3°C
for ten minutes between coats is allowed. After the final coat has been applied, the coated
specimens shall be allowed to air dry for not less than 60 minutes (A flash cure at 65°C - 79°C
for 10 to 30 minutes until dry to touch is also permitted). The coated specimens shall then be
placed in an air circulating oven at 150 ± 15°C for 2 hours. The coated specimens shall be
removed from the oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. At least two test panel
specimens shall be used in each test method. A total of 28 aluminum panels and 2 corrosion
resistant steel panels are required for testing in accordance with performance requirements of this
specification.
4.4.2.2 Preparation of and application to test panels for solid film lubricant (steel). The
panels shall be steel panels approximately 0.32 cm by 7.6 cm by 15.2 cm conforming to ASTM
A108. The panels shall be pre-cleaned with aliphatic naphtha or any environmentally safe
cleaner that sufficiently cleans surfaces to pass ASTM F22. The cleaner shall not cause any
damage to the surface being cleaned. The panels shall have both faces and all edges grit-blasted
with 180-220 grit aluminum oxide. Phosphate the panels (weight should be 11 - 22 g/m2) in
accordance with MIL-DTL-16232, using ASTM B499 or D7091 to measure the thickness of the
phosphated panels. The steel panels shall be dipped or sprayed to the same thickness as specified
for the aluminum panels (see 4.4.2.1). After air drying for 60 minutes (a flash cure at 65°C to
79°C for 10 to 30 minutes until dry to touch is also permitted), bake the panels in an air
circulating oven at 204 ± 15°C for one hour. The coated specimens shall be removed from the
oven and allowed to cool to room temperature. At least two test panel specimens shall be used in
each test method. A total of two steel panels, two steel disks and six sets of pins and vee blocks
are required for testing in accordance with performance requirements of this specification.
4.5 Test Methods. Tests shall be performed in accordance with Table II and 4.5.1
through 4.5.4.
4.5.1 Film thickness and appearance. The bonded solid film lubricant specimens shall be
examined visually and microscopically at a magnification of 12X for uniformity in color,
smoothness and evidence of cracks, scratches, pinholes, blisters, bubbles, runs, sags, foreign
matter, grit, rough particles, and separation of ingredients.
Test Method
Characteristic Requirement
FED-STD-791 ASTM
Film Thickness1
Aluminum D7091 or B244 3.3
Steel D7091 or B499
Resistance to Fluids2,7,8 D2510
3.5
Procedure C
Thermal Stability3,7,8 D2511 3.6
Endurance Wear Life4,7,9 D2625
3.7
Procedure A
Load Carrying Capacity4,7,9 D2625
3.8
Procedure B
Aluminum Corrosion5,8 D2649 3.9
Salt Spray (Fog)5,9 B117 3.11
Sulfurous Acid/Salt Spray6,9 5331 3.10
Film Adhesion8 D2510
3.4
Procedure A
Solids Content (see 4.5.2) 3.12
Storage Stability (See 4.5.3) 3.13
Volatile Organic Compound D3960
3.14
Content (see 4.5.4)
Notes: 1 Film thickness is determined after panels are air dried then baked for 120 ± 5
minutes at 150 ± 15°C for aluminum or for 60 ± 5 minutes at 204 ± 15°C for steel.
2 Test fluids shall be in accordance with Table I.
3 Any condensation shall be removed with clean, dry compressed air. The dried
panel shall then be subjected to the film adhesion test.
4 The surface of test pins and vee-blocks shall be pretreated with phosphate in
accordance with MIL-DTL-16232 type Z or M, Class 3 with a weight of 11-22 g/m2
after grit blasting (180-220 grit aluminum oxide, 50-60 RMS).
5 All lubricants film thicknesses must conform to 3.3 when prepared in accordance
with 4.5.2 before placing in salt fog cabinet in accordance with ASTM B117.
6 The panels shall be subjected to 4 cycles. Each cycle shall consist of 2 hours spray
time and 24 hours drying time before inspection.
7 When performing ASTM D2510, D2625, or FED-STD-791 test methods, use
4.5.2 Solids content. Stir the lubricant thoroughly, weigh 5.0 ± 0.5 grams into a
disposable weighing dish (e.g., Fisher Scientific catalog number 08-732 or equivalent). Place the
dish and contents into a forced draft oven maintained at a temperature of 49 ± 3°C for 18 1
hours. Remove dish from oven and place in desiccator. Raise temperature of oven to 204 ± 3°C
and replace dish with residue into the oven for 1 additional hour. Remove dish and contents and
cool in a desiccator. When cool, weigh dish and contents. Calculate percent by weight of solids
in fluid lubricant as follows:
4.5.3 Storage stability. Set aside a one-quart qualification sample in a storage area
maintained at 25 ± 3°C for a period of 365 ± 7 days. At the end of the storage period, determine
the endurance life (see 3.7), of the cured lubricant film, the sulfurous acid - salt spray (see 3.10)
and the salt-spray (fog) test (see 3.11).
4.5.4 Volatile organic compound content. The volatile organic compound content shall
be determined in accordance with ASTM D3960; determine the non-volatile content in
accordance with ASTM D2832; determine the water content in accordance with ASTM D4017,
determine the density in accordance with ASTM D1475; and determine exempt solvents in
accordance with ASTM D4457. The VOC content calculation shall be performed in accordance
with ASTM D3960.
5. PACKAGING
5.1 Packaging. For acquisition purposes, the packaging requirements shall be specified
in the contract or order (see 6.2). When actual packaging of materiel is to be performed by DoD
personnel, these personnel need to contact the responsible packaging activity to ascertain
requisite packaging requirements. Packaging requirements are maintained by the Inventory
Control Point’s packaging activity within the Military Department or Defense Agency, or within
the Military Department’s or Defense Agency’s automated packaging files, CD-ROM products,
or by contacting the responsible packaging activity.
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6. NOTES
(This section contains information of a general or explanatory nature that may be helpful, but is
not mandatory.)
6.1 Intended use. The solid film lubricant covered by this specification is intended for
use on aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper, copper alloys, steel, stainless steel, titanium,
chromium, and nickel bearing surfaces (see appendix for application instructions). It is useful
under the following conditions:
6.1.1 Use limitations. This lubricant should not be used under the following conditions:
6.1.2 Corrosion protection life. This lubricant, when under static conditions, can be
expected to provide corrosion protection for five years in indoor storage and approximately two
years protection in outdoor storage when lubricant is applied over phosphated steel to a thickness
of 0.013 mm. Where maximum corrosion protection on steel is desired, the lubricant should be
applied over phosphated steel to a thickness of 0.025 mm. The heavier coating can be expected
to provide outdoor corrosion protection for approximately four years.
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6.2.1 Age limitation. The lubricant should not be ordered for use beyond 12 months
from the date of manufacture.
6.3 Qualifications. With respect to products requiring qualification, awards will be made
only for products which are, at the time set for opening of bids, qualified for inclusion in
qualified products list (QPL-46010) whether or not such products have actually been so listed by
that date. The attention of the contractors is called to these requirements, and manufacturers are
urged to arrange to have the products that they propose to offer to the Government tested for
qualification in order that they may be eligible to be awarded contracts or purchase orders for the
products covered by this specification. The activity responsible for the qualified products list is:
US Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC),
AMSRD-TAR-D/210 (FLTT), Warren, MI 48397-5000. Products will not be considered for
inclusion in QPL-46010 until such time as appropriate departmental medical activity has
reviewed all pertinent material safety data sheets (FED-STD-313).
6.4 Falex lubricant tester. Information pertaining to the Falex lubricant tester (see 3.7
and 3.8) can be obtained from the Falex Corp., 1020 Airpark Drive, Sugar Grove, IL 60554.
The attention of the operator is called to the fact that repeatable and reproducible test results can
only be obtained if the test instrument is in proper calibration.
6.5.2 Exclusion of lead and lead compounds. Historically, products under the MIL-L-
46010 specification were permitted to contain lead compounds because no alternative existed.
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Products have been developed that conform to the specification but do not require the use of lead
compounds. The exclusion is inserted in order to prevent lead pollution.
6.6 Application to end item. The lubricant should be applied to end items in accordance
with the appendix of this document over surfaces that have been pre-treated as per Appendix A
(unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order).
6.7 End Item Testing. When possible, film thickness and adhesion should be tested
when lubricant has been applied to an end item. Testing with laboratory coupons and test panels
does not always correlate with lubricant performance when applied to actual end item.
6.9 Aerospace Components. Types I and II lubricants previously found under MIL-L-
0046010E are now under SAE Aerospace Standard AS5272. The SAE document still allows the
use of lead material to meet aerospace application requirements. For other than aerospace
applications products under MIL-PRF-46010 shall be used. (Use of MIL-PRF-46010 in
aerospace applications must first be validated.)
6.10 Definitions.
Lead-containing compound –
6.12 Changes from previous issue. Marginal notations are not used in this revision to
identify changes with respect to the previous issue due to the extensiveness of the changes.
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APPENDIX A
A.1. SCOPE
A.1.1 Scope. This Appendix describes the surface pretreatment, temperature, and baking
time required to cure the solid film lubricant when it is applied over the bearing surfaces of
manufactured parts of various metals. This Appendix is not a mandatory part of the specification.
The information contained herein is intended to aid in compliance.
ASTM INTERNATIONAL
ASTM A967/A967M -
Standard Specification for Chemical Passivation
Treatments for Stainless Steel Parts (DoD Adopted).
ASTM D1125 - Standard Test Methods for Electrical Conductivity
and Resistivity of Water (DoD Adopted).
ASTM D1732 - Standard Practices for Preparation of Magnesium
Alloy Surfaces for Painting (DoD Adopted).
(Application for copies should be addressed to: ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive,
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, or at www.astm.org)
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APPENDIX A
SAE INTERNATIONAL
(Copies of these documents are available from www.sae.org or SAE Customer Service, 400
Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.)
A.3. REQUIREMENTS
A.3.1 General application instructions for all metals. Do not touch the pretreated
surfaces with the fingers. Stir the lubricant until thoroughly mixed, using a low-shear mixing
blade. Do not use mechanical paint shakers, because excessive foaming may occur. Minor
viscosity adjustments may be made by adding deionized water according to A.3.1.1. Ordinary
tap water shall not be used. Apply the lubricant by brushing, dipping, or spraying to a nominal
film thickness of 0.010 mm with no reading less than 0.005 mm or greater than 0.018 mm and
permit the coated parts to air dry for at least 30 minutes (or flash cure at 65 to 70°C for 10 to 30
minutes) to assure complete removal of solvent. Bake at 204 ± 15°C for one hour or at 150 ±
15°C for 2 hours. The coated surface of the piece must remain at the cure temperature for the
specified time. This may require that the coated piece remain in the oven for a period longer
than that specified to assure compliance with this requirement. The use of a thermocouple
attached to the coated surface to indicate the temperature of the coating has been found to be
satisfactory for determining the beginning of the timed baking period. In addition, the
application of the coating to parts shall be as specified in A.3.2 through A.3.7 unless otherwise
specified in the contract or purchase order.
A.3.1.1 Deionized water for dilution. Any deionized water used shall have a resistivity
not less than 1 Mcm, when tested in accordance with ASTM D1125.
A.3.2 Application on aluminum and aluminum alloys. Preclean the surfaces to be coated
with aliphatic naphtha or any environmentally safe cleaner that sufficiently cleans surfaces to
pass ASTM F22, but does not harm the surface (i.e. hydrogen embrittlement, etc.). Anodize and
seal the surface in accordance with MIL-A-8625, types I, II, or III, class l.
A.3.3 Application on copper and copper alloys. Preclean the surfaces to be coated with
aliphatic naphtha or any environmentally safe cleaner that sufficiently cleans surfaces to pass
ASTM F22, but does not harm the surface (i.e. hydrogen embrittlement, etc.). Sandblast the
surfaces with 180-220 grit clean, dry sand. Form a black oxide finish on the surfaces in
accordance with MIL-F-495.
15
APPENDIX A
surfaces to pass ASTM F22, but does not harm the surface (i.e. hydrogen embrittlement, etc.).
Anodize the surface in accordance with ASTM D1732, class 2, type I, II or III.
A.3.5 Application on steel. Preclean the surfaces to be coated with aliphatic naphtha or
any environmentally safe cleaner that sufficiently cleans surfaces to pass ASTM F22, but does
not harm the surface (i.e. hydrogen embrittlement, etc.). Sandblast the surfaces with 180-220
grit aluminum oxide. Phosphate in accordance with MIL-DTL-16232 (weight should be 11 - 22
g/m2), type M, class 3 or type Z, class 3.
A.3.6 Application on stainless steels. Preclean the surfaces to be coated with aliphatic
naphtha or any environmentally safe cleaner that sufficiently cleans surfaces to pass ASTM F22,
but does not harm the surface (i.e. hydrogen embrittlement, etc.). Sandblast the surfaces with
120 grit aluminum oxide. Passivate the surfaces in accordance with ASTM A967/A967M, nitric
1, nitric 2 or nitric 3 as applicable.
A.3.7 Application on titanium and titanium alloys. Degrease the surfaces to be coated
with aliphatic naphtha or any environmentally safe cleaner that sufficiently cleans surfaces to
pass ASTM F22, but does not harm the surface (i.e. hydrogen embrittlement, etc.). Sandblast the
surface with 180-220 grit aluminum oxide and alkaline anodize per SAE AMS2488.
A.3.8 Engineering tolerances. The operating thickness of this lubricant averages from
0.008 to 0.013 mm per lubricated surface. This thickness seldom requires alteration of
established clearances between moving parts. There is one exception. The lubricant coating
thickness must be considered in the case of small parts that normally operate with very little
clearance. The cured lubricant film is relatively soft and any interference produced by the
thickness of the lubricant will cause rapid wear of the lubricant film to the point where
interference is eliminated.
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Review interest:
Army - AR, AV, MI, SM, MD
Navy - SH, MC
Air Force - 68
DLA - GS, PS
Industry Associations:
SAE
ASTM
NOTE: The activities listed above were interested in this document as of the date of this
document. Since organizations and responsibilities can change, you should verify the currency
of the information above using the ASSIST online database at https://assist.dla.mil.
17