Uses Of Molybdate & Molybdenum Disulphide

Molybdenum Disulphide and Molbdates

Brad-Chem Ltd manufactures molybdenum disulphide dispersions and we are the distributor for Climax Molybdenum, the highest quality molybdenum chemicals producer in the world. Molybdenum disulphide (or Molybdenite) is the naturally occurring ore of molybdenum metal. Climax Molybdenum mines this ore with the highest conditions of worker safety and refines it to exacting standards of purity and particle size distribution.

Molybdates are chemical products made from molybdenum disulphide. They are made by swapping the sulphur atoms for oxygen atoms to form molybdic acid pure molybdic oxide and subsequent basification. Depending on the base used and the conditions used in the basification, a variety of molybdates can be produced. The most commonly used molybdates are Pure molybdic oxide, sodium molybdate dihydrate, ammonium dimolybdate, and ammonium heptamolybdate tetraydrate.

What Are The Uses Of Molybdenum Disulphide?

Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) is primarily used as a solid lubricant. It can be used as a dry film lubricant or as a dispersed lubricant in a suitable carrier. In both cases, the lubrication is provided by stacked plate-like layers of molybdenum disulphide that slide over each other. Dry film lubricants are lubricants that prevent extreme pressure and wear damage to moving parts without a liquid component present. The molybdenum disulfide for this application is usually dispersed in a volatile solvent and the solid film is usually applied to the parts by spraying, brushing or dipping and allowing the solvent to evaporate.

Solid lubricant dispersions comprised dispersed solid lubricant in oil or water. The oil may provide some lubrication under low load conditions, but the molybdenum disulphide provides the main lubrication and sometimes the only lubrication when very high pressures are applied. These products are useful for metal forging, metal forming, and moulding metal parts. Unlike graphite, molybdenum disulphide is an inherent lubricant and does not require water between its molecular layers in order to provide lubrication. For this reason it can be used in thin atmospheres or even in the vacuum of outer space.

What Are The Uses Of Molybdic Oxide And Molybdates?

Molybdic oxide is used as a component of some types of steel, as a water treatment chemical and also as a reagent for the manufacture of other molybdenum compounds. The primary function of molybdic oxide as a component in steel and as a water treatment chemicals is the prevention of corrosion. Molybdates are also very good corrosion inhibitors for steel and aluminium and these products are also used in water treatment applications. In particular, sodium molybdate is often used in boiler and heating system water treatment chemical formulations.

Another use of sodium molybdates is a bioavailable source of molybdenum, particularly in the formulation of fertilisers for leguminous crops. Ammonium molybdates are also sometimes used as corrosion inhibitors and sometimes used as a bioavailable source of molybdenum. These materials are also used in catalysis in industrial chemical manufacture.

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