Mentally picture bonded moly particles being sprayed on the rough mountainous surface. In the aerosol composition, the bonded moly particles are individually suspended and separated in a solution of solvents, waiting to be released and applied to the substrate field. When released, the bonded moly particles descend on to the materials surface similar to black snow falling on a recently plowed agricultural field. They adhere/bond to each other and to most clean materials with which they contact. The particles/flakes accumulate - filling the furrows (valleys of the asperities) and eventually cover the peaks. As particles continue to accumulate, they are bonded to the alloy forming the desired 0.0005” to 0.001” buffering zone. The buffering coating completely shields the under lying alloy from direct metal to metal contact, abrasion, corrosive agents, and extreme temperatures from combustion.

The bonded particles in the coating re-establish their properties of being able to delaminate and shingle along the lines of applied force and pressure. This shingling effect is again shown in the electron-photograph Figure 4. The picture center clearly shows the shingling effect of moly particles. This shingling effect of relatively soft moly platelets is what gives metal sufaces the  gliding surface over which to travel without metallic wear and without moly buildup. The metal surface has no metal to metal contact - only moly to moly contact. That is; so long as the moly is present. Moly must be suspended in the lubricant so it can replenish any moly carried away under load. However, if there is insufficient moly in suspension,  the moly supply is exhausted in growing bald spots. Again we would  have metal to metal contact along with its associated wear. This is analogous to sledding down a hill in the winter where the cars have packed the snow down to a slippery glaze. You are really zooming along -slick and smooth - until you hit a bare spot with the cement or blacktop showing. Result, perish the thought!

The final result of the shingling effect of powered moly is a thin layer of moly powder deposited on a metallic surface. This coating is comprised of overlapping moly platelets measured by the scanning electron microscope to be 2 microns in thickness. Soluble moly layers are 0.0005” to 0.001”. It has been suggested that this thickness is relatively constant. Any moly over this amount will be carried off under the pressure of an object passing over this surface and kept in suspension, ie, motor oil. The effect of the playing card like bridge, spanning the valleys or voids is important in that we have greatly increased the bearing surface. With peak to peak or point to point contact, tremendous pressures and temperatures are localized and concentrated on those points of metal to metal contact. Now, with the moly bridging or coating the entire surface, the bearing surfaces are relatively and uniformly in contact. The bearing pressure is now evenly distributed over a greater number of contact points. Also, the other metal alloys are not in contact with the each other.
 
 

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