Tribological Properties of Cu-MoS₂-WS₂-Ag-CNT Sintered Composite Materials

In this work, in order to produce Cu-MoS₂-WS₂-Ag-CNT self-lubricating materials, powder metallurgy was used. Several different compositions containing single solid lubricant MoS₂, WS₂, Ag and CNTs as well as multi-component lubricants in the copper matrix were prepared. Friction and wear tests were carried out using the pin-on-disc method at room temperature. Light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the wear mechanism of sintered materials. The tribofilm on the worn surfaces of sintered materials and counter-specimens was observed. The influence of single solid lubricants and the synergistic interaction of two, three or four solid lubricants on tribological properties of sintered composite materials were determined.