Effect of Nickel Plating on MoS2 on Friction and Wear Properties of Cu-MoS2 Composites

Abstract

The copper-molybdenum disulfide composites were prepared by powder metallurgy under argon sintering atmosphere. The effects of nickel plating on the surface of the molybdenum disulfide on the friction and wear properties of the composites were studied. Friction and wear experiments with different frictional speeds and loads were carried out on the surface micromechanical testing system of UNMT-1 material. The microstructure and friction/wear morphology of the materials under different conditions were observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy(OM). The results show that the sintering temperature increased from 720 °C to 920 °C, and the microhardness and wear properties were obviously improved. The reaction products of nickel-plated molybdenum disulfide and nickel-free samples were the same at different sintering temperatures, whereas the product content was the same. There was a significant difference between the micro-morphology and the surface of the molybdenum disulfide. The friction coefficient of the nickel-plated molybdenum on the surface of the molybdenum disulfide was relatively high, the wear was relatively serious, the wear surface was relatively rough, and the unnickel-plated sample exhibited good friction and wear properties.