Superior tribological properties of powder materials with solid lubricant nanoparticles

Friction and wear of powder materials impregnated with commercially available layered (platelets) WS2 (2H) and inorganic fullerene-like WS2 nanoparticles (IF) were studied. Bronze-graphite, iron-graphite and iron-nickel-graphite samples were used in this experiment. The linear wear of powder materials (in situ) was measured. It was shown that the IF nanoparticles impregnated into the pores improve the tribological properties of powder materials in comparison to a reference sample or the sample impregnated with 2H solid lubricant particles. The mechanisms of friction and wear of the IF nanoparticles have been considered. The tribological role of the wear particles and nanoparticles of solid lubricants has been analyzed in the framework of a third body lubrication model. The state of the IF nanoparticles before and after the wear test was studied. It was found that the shape of the IF nanoparticles is preserved during the friction tests under high loads. Thin wear debris surrounded by spherical IF nanoparticles appear to be formed and provide easily sheared lubrication film (low friction coefficient) during friction experiments of powder materials containing IF nanoparticles. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.