Effect of molybdenum disulphide upon the friction and wear in ceramic-steel pair

Friction and wear tests between a stationary block and a rotating ring under lubrication with molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) were carried out at room temperature at a sliding distance of 500 m. Silicon nitride and cemented carbide blocks were pressed against a bearing steel ring, silicon nitride-bearing steel and cemented carbide-bearing steel pairs, by a load of 1600 N. The effect of molybdenum disulphide upon the coefficient of friction and the wear of the steel ring was discussed for both pairs in comparison with mineral oil lubricants. Molybdenum disulphide was more effective in reducing the coefficient of friction and the wear of the ring than the oil lubricants. Various mechanical pretreatment for forming MoS2 film on the ring surface prior to the sliding tests were also considered. The mechanical pretreatment enabled the sliding test with the tow friction coefficient even without lubrication over the sliding distance of 500 m. In general, the coefficient of friction and wear loss of the steel ring were smaller in the silicon nitride-bearing steel pair than in the cemented carbide-bearing steel pair. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.