Solid FeS lubricant: a possible alternative to MoS2 for Cu-Fe-based friction materials

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is one of the most commonly used solid lubricants for Cu-Fe-based friction materials.Nevertheless,MoS2 reacts with metal matrices to produce metal sulfides (e.g.,FeS) and Mo during sintering,and the lubricity of the composite may be related to the generation of FeS.Herein,the use of FeS as an alternative to MoS2 for producing Cu-Fe-based friction materials was investigated.According to the reaction principle of thermodynamics,two composites—one with MoS2 (Fe-Cu-MoS2 sample) and the other with FeS (FeS-Cu2S-Cu-Fe-Mo sample),were prepared and their friction behaviors and mechanical properties were compared.The results showed that MoS2 reacted with the Cu-Fe matrix to produce FeS,metallic ternary sulfides,and Mo when sintered at 1050℃.The MoS2-Cu-Fe and FeS-Cu2S-Cu-Fe-Mo samples thereby exhibited similar characteristics with respect to phase composition,density,hardness,and tribological behaviors.Micrographs of the worn surfaces revealed that the stable friction regime for both composites stemmed from the iron sulfides friction layers rather than from the molybdenum sulfides layers.     

Low-cost solid FeS lubricant as a possible alternative to MoS_2 for producing Fe-based friction materials

Three reaction systems of MoS_2–Fe, FeS –Fe, and Fe S–Fe–Mo were designed to investigate the use of FeS as an alternative to MoS_2 for producing Fe-based friction materials. Samples were prepared by powder metallurgy, and their phase compositions, microstructures, mechanical properties, and friction performance were characterized. The results showed that MoS_2 reacts with the matrix to produce iron-sulfides and Mo when sintered at 1050°C. Iron-sulfides produced in the MoS_2–Fe system were distributed uniformly and continuously in the matrix, leading to optimal mechanical properties and the lowest coefficient of friction among the systems studied. The lubricity observed was hypothesized to originate from the iron-sulfides produced. The Fe S–Fe–Mo system showed a phase composition, porosity, and density similar to those of the MoS_2–Fe system, but an uneven distribution of iron-sulfides and Mo in this system resulted in less-optimal mechanical properties. Finally, the Fe S–Fe system showed the poorest mechanical properties among the systems studied because of the lack of Mo reinforcement. In friction tests, the formation of a sulfide layer contributed to a decrease in coefficient of friction(COF) in all of the samples.     

Low-cost solid FeS lubricant as a possible alternative to MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> for producing Fe-based friction materials

Three reaction systems of MoS₂-Fe, FeS-Fe, and FeS-Fe-Mo were designed to investigate the use of FeS as an alternative to MoS₂ for producing Fe-based friction materials. Samples were prepared by powder metallurgy, and their phase compositions, microstructures, mechanical properties, and friction performance were characterized. The results showed that MoS₂ reacts with the matrix to produce iron-sulfides and Mo when sintered at 1050℃. Iron-sulfides produced in the MoS₂-Fe system were distributed uniformly and continuously in the matrix, leading to optimal mechanical properties and the lowest coefficient of friction among the systems studied. The lubricity observed was hypothesized to originate from the iron-sulfides produced. The FeS-Fe-Mo system showed a phase composition, porosity, and density similar to those of the MoS₂-Fe system, but an uneven distribution of iron-sulfides and Mo in this system resulted in less-optimal mechanical properties. Finally, the FeS-Fe system showed the poorest mechanical properties among the systems studied because of the lack of Mo reinforcement. In friction tests, the formation of a sulfide layer contributed to a decrease in coefficient of friction (COF) in all of the samples.     

Solid FeS lubricant:a possible alternative to MoS2 for Cu-Fe-based friction materials

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is one of the most commonly used solid lubricants for Cu-Fe-based friction materials. Nevertheless, MoS₂ reacts with metal matrices to produce metal sulfides (e.g., FeS) and Mo during sintering, and the lubricity of the composite may be related to the generation of FeS. Herein, the use of FeS as an alternative to MoS₂ for producing Cu-Fe-based friction materials was investigated. According to the reaction principle of thermodynamics, two composites-one with MoS₂ (Fe-Cu-MoS₂ sample) and the other with FeS (FeS-Cu₂S-Cu-Fe-Mo sample), were prepared and their friction behaviors and mechanical properties were compared. The results showed that MoS₂ reacted with the Cu-Fe matrix to produce FeS, metallic ternary sulfides, and Mo when sintered at 1050℃. The MoS₂-Cu-Fe and FeS-Cu₂S-Cu-Fe-Mo samples thereby exhibited similar characteristics with respect to phase composition, density, hardness, and tribological behaviors. Micrographs of the worn surfaces revealed that the stable friction regime for both composites stemmed from the iron sulfides friction layers rather than from the molybdenum sulfides layers.