Sliding Wear of WC-Ni-Based Self-Lubricating Composites With the Addition of Fullerene-Like WS2 Nanoparticles Against WC-Ni Cermet

In this work, WC-Ni-based composites with fullerene-like WS2 nanoparticles were fabricated by pulsed electric current sintering. High pressure could assist in low-temperature sintering of the composite. The sliding wear behavior of the composites against WC-Ni counterbodies was also studied in reciprocating ball-on-plate mode. The friction coefficient of the composite was reduced by the incorporated lubricant. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray elemental mapping further suggest that the friction reduction is attributed to the formation of a mixed tribofilm on the wear tracks supported by the underlying densified matrix. Wear mechanisms are also discussed here.