Mechanical and tribological performance of MoS2 co-sputtered composites

Co-sputtered films of MoS2 with Au, Ti, Cr or WSe2, respectively, have been deposited in order to investigate the relationships between dopant and tri bological and mechanical behaviour. The alloying constituents were selected based on possible chemical effects, for example substitution in the MoS2 s tructure, intercalation, edge-bond passivation, and with and without simult aneous oxygen gettering of the sputtering environment. The mechanical prope rties of the composite films were investigated by pin-on-disk sliding wear testing and linear, oscillating wear testing both in 50% relative humidity air, microscratch and indent adhesion characterisation, and nanoindentation hardness as a function of the dopant element(s) and concentration. All of the dopants investigated exhibited superior tribological and mechanical beh aviour compared to the pure MoSx films. In tribological tests, results indi cate a significant improvement in the lifetime, mean friction coefficient, and friction 'noise' of the films. Tribological performance was found to be strongly related to both the dopant element and dopant concentration. The best dopant for improved performance was found with WSe2 followed by Au, Ti , and Gr. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.