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Carbon nanotube-MoS2 composites as solid lubricants.
Xianfeng Zhang1, Brandon Luster, Amelia Church
1Department of Physics, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 2, 2010
Summary
New solid lubricants using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) composites offer superior friction reduction and wear resistance, even at high temperatures. These advanced materials enhance the lifespan of components in demanding tribological applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Tribology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Solid lubricants (SLs) like MoS2, WS2, and graphite are crucial for reducing friction and wear.
- Conventional SLs degrade significantly under extreme conditions such as high temperatures and humidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel solid lubricant coatings with enhanced performance under extreme conditions.
- To investigate the tribological properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) and MoS2 composites.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of MoS2 coatings on vertically aligned CNT films via electrodeposition.
- Characterization of friction coefficient (μ) and wear rates (w) at elevated temperatures (up to 300°C).
- Evaluation of CNT-MoS2 composites as additives in liquid lubricants.
Main Results:
- CNT-MoS2 composites exhibited exceptionally low friction (μ ≈ 0.03) and wear rates (w ≈ 10⁻¹³ mm³/N·mm) at 300°C.
- Performance was two orders of magnitude superior to nanoparticulate MoS2 coatings.
- Incorporation into liquid lubricants reduced friction by approximately 15%.
Conclusions:
- Vertically aligned CNTs provide robust support for MoS2 nanoclusters, enabling ultralow wear.
- Electrodeposited CNT-MoS2 composites offer a promising solution for high-temperature and humid tribological applications.
- These advanced SLs can significantly improve the durability and efficiency of mechanical systems.
