Keywords

Nanoparticles, Boundary Lubrication, Tribofilms

Synthesis of Efficient Nanoparticles for Boundary Lubrication: Influence of the Size and Structure of Inorganic Fullerene-Like MoS2 Nanoparticles

The use of nanoparticles as lubricant additives has been widely explored in recent years, and inorganic fullerene-like particles such as IF-MoS2 and IF-WS2 have spiked special interest due to their great friction and wear reducing capacities. In this study, various synthesis techniques were used to produce inorganic fullerene-like MoS2 (IF-MoS2) nanoparticles of different sizes and morphologies. Boundary lubrication testing of these various samples dispersed in base oil revealed an influence of nanoparticle crystallinity on the durability of the additive, even though the nanoparticles containing fewer structural defects achieved the same maximum friction reduction as the more crystalline IF-MoS2. Although nanoparticle size may be perceived as an important parameter for efficient lubrication, particles as large as 400 nm in diameter provided the same friction reduction as the smaller particles for a given morphology. The importance of using ultra-fine and perfectly structured fullerene-like nanoparticles is discussed in the light of these results.

Authors and Company/Institution

P. Rabaso, F. Ville and J. Cavoret, LaMCoS-INSA Lyon, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne Cedex, France 
F. Dassenoy, B. Vacher and T. Le Mogne, LTDS-Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Ecully, France
M. Diaby, Centre Technique de Belchamp, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Belchamps, France
P. Afanasiev, IRCELYON, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France