A History of MOLYKOTE® Specialty Lubricants

For more than 75 years, the MOLYKOTE^® brand has been a trusted partner offering legendary lubrication performance.

We have a rich history of helping engineers and manufacturers meet some of the world’s toughest technical design and lubrication challenges. We continually invest in technology and product innovation to support customers’ changing needs. Working side by side with our customers, the MOLYKOTE^® Specialty Lubricants brand is forging the future of lubrication.

Scroll down to view our historical milestones.

DuPont & an eye on the future

When we joined DuPont in 2019 and were able to leverage the company’s technologies and expertise, we became even better positioned to create solutions for emerging trends.

FUTURE: Looking ahead
2023: MOLYKOTE^® 75th anniversary
2021: Launched the new molykote.com
2020s: Focused on sustainability & emerging trends
2019: Joined DuPont; leveraged expertise & technology

Expanding our expertise & technologies

As part of Dow Corning Corporation – a pioneer in silicone chemistry and a major supplier of lubricating materials for special applications – we cemented our reputation as an industry leader in tribological expertise and innovation.

2016: Joined The Dow Chemical Company
2000s: Introduced a fresh take on MOLYKOTE^®
1990s: Pushed boundaries of new lubricant development
1980s: Added new greases for plastics & more
1970s: Introduced expanded application options
1964: Dow Corning buys Alpha Molykote

An idea & a “miracle”

Alfred Sonntag considered the mineral molybdenum to be a “miracle” lubricant after discovering it in 18th-century scientific writings. His research, innovation and commercialization of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) lubricants sparked the beginning of today’s MOLYKOTE^® Specialty Lubricants.

1948: Alpha Molykote established to produce world’s first MoS₂ lubricants
1940: Sonntag Scientific Corporation founded to develop molybdenum-based lubricants
1935: Failure sparked inspiration