Wikipedia article on the subject was a little too technical, getting into layered molecular structure and non-lamellar structures and such. Hoping this sub can make sense of it.
In: Engineering
The blanket statement “they work better” is misleading and doesn’t help understand the differences in this case.
Lubrication can be thought of as doing two different functions, the first is reducing friction, the second is protecting from rusting.
If I rub two things back and forth with a dry lube, an oil, or a grease, they’re going to behave and accomplish those goals differently and in different proportions.
Graphite penetrates the surface “pores” of your materials and helps even them out so there’s less ‘grit’ to grab and then it just stays there until it’s wiped out of those pores. Oils and greases do something similar, but also film over the whole surface so even less contact occurs, and prevent oxidation.
Different tools for different jobs. They wear off/escape differently, attract dirt and grime differently and are significantly different to clean off when it’s time.
It’s actually an ongoing drama in the gun world over oil vs grease, or if letting carbon accumulate on certain bearing surfaces is ok, since the carbon fouling left over from gunfire is extremely similar to graphite dust.
(Grease at the way imo.)
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