Synthesis and Investigation of Micro-Tribological Behavior of WS₂ Nanotube

MS2(M=Mo, W, S=S, Se) are often used as solid lubricants in high/low temperature, high load, vacuum, in which oil lubrication is failed. Although WS2 is much more expensive than MoS2, it has better high temperature properties than MoS2. Thermal decomposition method is used to produce fullerence-like WS2 nanotube on Al2O3 template using (NH4)2WS4. The fabricated WS2 nanotube’s diameter is about 100nm and its length is longer than 2µm.The morphology, microstructure and tribological behavior of WS2 nanotube are investigated by means of SEM, TEM, XRD and AFM. The friction force between Si3N4 probe of AFM with WS2 nanotube is lower than that with MoS2 powder. Similar results are also found in pin-disc tester by GCr15 pin and lubricants coating disc. The results of HETEM show that WS2 nanotube has rolling debris between the two antagonist surfaces, and MoS2 powder only has flattened debris. It may be the fullerence structure brings the chemical stability and leads to low friction.