IKO’s Liquid Crystal Lubricant for Semiconductor Applications Is Available for Samples

IKO is accepting sample requests for an innovative lubricant that ends the compromise that engineers often struggle with when choosing conventional lubricants in vacuum applications like semiconductor equipment — long-lasting high performance versus cleanliness. Liquid Crystal Lubricant is a promising alternative to traditional lubricating greases that are composed of base oils and thickeners whose dissimilar molecules do not adhere well to metal surfaces and evaporate easily. Instead, Liquid Crystal Lubricant forms molecular aggregates whose layers easily slide past each other. This unique molecular structure adheres better to metal surfaces without releasing materials. The result: excellent lubrication characteristics where rolling contact occurs and low outgassing.

When tested in various conditions, Liquid Crystal Lubricant exhibited:
Outgassing: Very little detection in mass spectrometry at 10-5 Pa and high temperature at 100°C and 200°C.
Evaporation: Zero net weight loss in an open atmosphere, even at 100°C over 770 hours.
Dust generation: One-tenth the amount of particles compared to lithium soap-based grease, and
also superior to cleanroom grease and vacuum grease.

Other results included dramatically better long-term durability and lower rolling resistance than conventional lubricants. Liquid Crystal Lubricant supports many IKO bearings, and samples are available in two sizes: 2.5 milliliters (MG2.5B/LCL01) and 10 milliliters (MG10B/LCL01). ikont.com