MoS2/Montmorillonite Nanocomposite: Preparation, Tribological Properties, and Inner Synergistic Lubrication

A nano-MoS2/montmorillonite K-10 (K10) composite was prepared and characterized. The composite contains two types of 2H-MoS2 nanoparticles. One is the hollow spherical MoS2 with a size range of 75[Formula: see text]nm, and the other is the spherical nano cluster of MoS2 with a size range of 30[Formula: see text]nm. The two kinds of nano-MoS2 were formed via assembly of numerous MoS2 nano-platelets with a size of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]nm. A tribological comparison was then made among nano-MoS2/K10, K10, nano-MoS2 and a mechanical mixture of K10 and nano-MoS2. K10 reduced the wear but slightly increased the friction. Nano-MoS2 remarkably reduced both friction and wear. The mechanical mixture demonstrated better wear resistance than nano-MoS2, indicating a synergistic anti-wear effect of nano-MoS2 and K10. The synergistic effect was reinforced using nano-MoS2/K10 instead of the mechanical mixture. A part of the MoS2 in the contact region always lubricated the friction pair, and the rest formed a tribofilm. K10 segregated the friction pair to alleviate the ablation wear but magnified the abrasive wear. S-MoS2 protects K10 and they together function as both a lubricant and an isolating agent to reduce the ablation and abrasive wear.