Antioxidation and Long Life of MoS₂-based Composite Coatings Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering Technique

MoS₂, Ti/MoS₂, Pb/MoS₂ and Pb-Ti/MoS₂ composite coatings were prepared by magnetron sputtering system. The microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings were investigated by various analytical techniques, and the influences of doped Pb and Ti on the structure and mechanic properties of the MoS₂ coatings were discussed. Results show that the structure of the Pb-Ti/MoS₂ composite coating was compact and dense, the surface of the coating was smooth, and the hardness of the Pb-Ti/MoS₂ composite coating was higher than MoS₂, Ti/MoS₂ and Pb/MoS₂ composite coatings. The tribological properties of the MoS₂ coating under 75% RH and high vacuum was significant improved with the co-doped of Pb and Ti, and the wear rate of the coating under humidity and vacuum environment were about 13% and 25% of pure MoS₂, and this was lower than the single doped MoS₂ composite coatings. The excellent tribological properties of the Pb-Ti/MoS₂ composite coating was ascribe to the compact structure, high anti-oxidation and mechanic properties.