much lower viscosity when subjected to shear stresses such as those provided by pumping spraying or brushing the lubricant composition this behavior can be brought about by for example including appropriate types and amounts of thixotropic fillers e g treated or untreated fumed silicas or other rheology modifiers in the lubricant composition the lubricant coating can be applied in a constant or intermittent fashion preferably the lubricant coating is applied in an intermittent fashion in order to minimize the amount of applied lubricant composition for example the lubricant composition can be applied for a period of time during which at least one complete revolution of the conveyor takes place application of the lubricant composition can then be halted for a period of time e g minutes or hours and then resumed for a further period of time e g one or more further conveyor revolutions the lubricant coating should be sufficiently thick to provide the desired degree of lubrication and sufficiently thin to permit economical operation and to discourage drip formation the lubricant coating thickness preferably is maintained at at least about 0 0001 mm more preferably about 0 001 to about 2 mm and most preferably about 0 005 to about 0 5 mm prior to application to the conveyor or container the lubricant composition should be mixed sufficiently.