Antifriction coating

1. An antifriction coating composition comprising:

(i) a resin binder;

(ii) a polyamide thickener;

(iii) a solvent; and

(iv) a solid lubricant;

wherein the resin binder (i) comprises a mixture comprising 15 to 50% by weight of a phenolic resin, 50 to 85% by weight of an epoxy resin and 10 to 30% by weight of a silicone resin, each based on 100% by weight of the (i) resin binder.

2. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the resin binder (i) comprises the reaction product of a phenol ether resin, a diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A and optionally, a polyorganosiloxane resin comprising at least two different units chosen from those of formulae R 3 SiO 0.5 (M units), R 2 SiO 2/2 (D units), RSiO 3/2 (T units) and SiO 4/2 (Q units), with at least one of these units being a T unit or a Q unit.

3. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the resin binder (i) comprises the reaction product of the polyorganosiloxane resin and the polyorganosiloxane resin is a T resin, a DT resin or a MDT resin.

4. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the polyamide thickener (ii) is a polyamide wax.

5. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the polyamide wax comprises the reaction product of a long-chain carboxylic acid and mono functional amines, polyfunctional amines, or ammonia.

6. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the polyamide wax comprises the reaction product of one or more alkylenediamines and one or more linear fatty acids or mixtures of fatty acids.

7. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the solid lubricant (iv) is selected from the group of graphite, molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a silicone wax, a solid hydrocarbon wax, a mixture of PTFE and polyolefin wax, zinc sulphide, tricalcium phosphate, calcium fluoride, and mixtures thereof.

8. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the solvent (iii) is selected from the group of water, alcohols, ketones, esters, heterocyclic aromatic solvents, non-heterocyclic aromatic solvents, and mixtures thereof.

9. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the solvent (iii) is a mixture of one or more alcohols and one or more esters, in a ratio of from 10:90 by weight to 50:50 by weight.

10. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising: (v) one or more silane coupling agents.

11. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the silane coupling agent (v) is selected from the group of methyltrimethoxysilane, (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane, (3-glycidoxypropyl) triethoxysilane, and mixtures thereof.

12. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 1 , comprising:

(i) 15 to 30% by weight of the resin binder;

(ii) 1 to 8% by weight of the polyamide thickener;

(iii) 50 to 80% by weight of the solvent;

(iv) 0.5 to 15% by weight of the solid lubricant;

(v) 0 to 3% by weight of a silane coupling agent; and optionally,

(vi) an additive;

each based on 100% by weight of the total antifriction coating composition components.

13. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising: one or more pigments.

14. The antifriction coating composition in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the pigment comprises calcium fluoride and/or aluminium oxide.

15. A method of forming an antifriction coating on a substrate, the method comprising the step of:

applying an antifriction coating composition to a surface of the substrate to form a coating;

wherein the antifriction coating composition is in accordance with claim 1 and optionally, wherein the antifriction coating composition is applied by brushing, dipping, dip-spinning, spraying, printing, and/or roller coating.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising the step of: curing the coating at a temperature of between 120° C. and 200° C. after application, and optionally, wherein the coating has a thickness of between 3 μm and 25 μm.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the substrate is:

I) pre-treated or post-treated with phosphating layers, Zn-rich coatings, Zn-flakes base coats, Zn-plating layers, or hot dip Zn-galvanizing layers;

II) selected from the group of fasteners or threaded connections used in industrial applications, fasteners used in automotive applications, door, bonnet and boot lock parts, hinges, door stoppers, window guides, seat belt components, brake rotors and drums, bushings, rods, piston skirts, piston rings or instrument panels; or

III) both I) and II).

18. A coated substrate formed in accordance with the method of claim 16 .