Friction and wear of powdered composites impregnated with WS2 inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles

The impregnation of inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles of WS2 (IF) allows to improve effectively the tribological properties of powdered materials in comparison to the impregnation of oil or commercially available layered WS2 (2H) particles. The main goal of this work was to determine the dominant lubrication regimes under friction of the bronze, iron, and iron–nickel porous matrixes impregnated with 2H and IF solid lubricants. The tribological tests were performed at laboratory atmosphere (humidity ∼50%) using a ring-on-block tester at the sliding speed of V=1 m/s, and the loads of 150–1000 N. The wear of the metal bodies was measured by an eddy current probe system and by weighting of the samples before and after the test. In order to evaluate the radial clearance, the profiles of wear blocks were analyzed by profile projector. Than these data were used in the calculation of the Sommerfeld reciprocal values. Friction and wear results were presented as the Stribeck curves. The critical Sommerfeld reciprocals were evaluated from these curves. The Stribeck curves were compared with the Morgan’s curves for different ranges of non-dimensional permeability, Ψ. These results are used then in calculation of the permeability, Φ. Three lubrication regimes as: quasi-hydrodynamic, boundary or mixed, and dry friction were revealed under friction of porous samples in the load-range studied. It was found that the impregnation of IF nanoparticles provides the regime of quasi-hydrodynamic lubrication in the widest range of loads in comparison to the reference sample and the sample impregnated with 2H–WS2. Fe–Ni samples exhibited the highest wear resistance and provided the widest range of quasi-hydrodynamic lubrication in comparison to bronze and iron powdered composites. The effect of IF on the regimes of lubrication is explained on the base of the third-body model. It is expected that the sliding/rolling of the IF nanoparticles in the boundary of the first bodies and in between the wear particles (third-body) facilitate the shear of the lubrication film and thus provide the quasi-hydrodynamic regime of friction. It is supposed that the roll shape of IF nanoparticles allows to release the IF from the pores to contact surfaces.