IF-MoS2 based lubricants: Influence of size, shape and crystal structure

In this work, we have studied the influence of the crystal structure of IF-MoS2 nanoparticles on the lubricating properties of the fullerenes added to a synthetic base oil. In steel contacts, we highlight the better lubricating properties of poorly crystallised IF-MoS2 nanoparticles, with many defects, compared to those of perfectly crystallised spherical particles. We explain the good lubricating properties of poorly crystallised particles by their higher ability to exfoliate and to form rapidly a tribofilm made of h-MoS2 sheets on the surfaces compared to the perfectly crystallised particles. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.