Preparation and Investigation of Tribological Properties of Nano MoS2 Thin Films Prepared by Dip Coating-Thermolysis

Nano MoS 2 thin films were successfully fabricated on glass substrate by dip coating thermolysis technique. The microstructure, morphology and tribological properties of MoS 2 thin films were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, X ray photoelectron spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic static friction and wear testing. As the results, the MoS 2 film is compact and uniform, with a surface roughness of Rms <0.3 nm. The film is crack free and consists of nanoscale crystallites. It shows good friction reducing and antiwear behavior in sliding against AISI 52100 steel at a relatively low load and sliding speed. Namely, the antiwear life is over 5 000 sliding cycles and the minimum friction coefficient is about 0.12. Observation of the worn surfaces of the film and the counterpart steel with a scanning electron microscope indicates that MoS 2 thin film is characterized by plastic deformation and slight adhesive transfer in sliding against the steel under a relatively low load and sliding speed, while it is characterized by plastic deformation and severe spalling under a relatively high load and sliding speed.