To provide some useful information on tribology performances of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) reinforced thermoplastic polymide under dry and water lubrication conditions.
The effect of MoS2 content on composites' mechanical and tribological performances was investigated and worn morphologies, elements distribution and wear mechanisms under dry and water lubricant condition were also analyzed.
As a result, the composites' main mechanical performances decreased partly compared with pure PI and it became more stable with MoS2 content unceasingly increasing (up to 20 wt%). In the dry sliding condition, the friction coefficient decreased obviously by filling MoS2. The wear of composites which filled 10‐15 wt% MoS2 was less than other composites in which MoS2 content was below to 5 wt% or high than 20 wt%. It was found that materials wear happened mainly at initial stages of tribology test which the temperature was so high and the adhesive wear had a dominant place during the test process. While in the water lubrication condition, the composites tribological performances were improved evidently and MoS2 was still an effective lubricant and the fatigue wear was the main factor during the tribology process.
The paper analyzed the MoS2's effect on materials mechanical and tribological performances and divided the tribology process into two parts according to materials friction and wear.
