Title: Tribological properties of MoS₂ thin films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering technique

Authors: Recai Fatih Tunay; Mehmet Poyraz

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Suleyman Demirel, Turkey ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mugla Sıtkı Koçman, Turkey

Abstract: This study aims to reduce the friction and wear losses of AISI440C steel, which is preferred in some machine elements like bearing balls, valves, oil pumps, cutters, springs, cams and scissors. The AISI440C substrates were coated with thin film MoS₂ which provides low friction and wear. During the coating, steel disc groups were obtained by changing the parameters of deposition including the radio frequency sputtering power and the deposition temperature. The thickness value of the lubricating MoS₂ films were determined with a scanning electron microscope. The hardness and elasticity modules of the MoS₂ coatings were determined. The data showing friction coefficient-distance relation of wear tests was obtained and the average friction coefficients, wear amounts and wear trace widths were reached. In this way, how changes in substrate deposition temperature and RF sputtering power affect tribological properties were interpreted. As a result, tribological optimisation of the most suitable coating pair parameter was provided.

Keywords: thin film coating; physical vapour deposition; wear; friction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2021.115825

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2021 Vol.62 No.4, pp.284 - 294

Received: 31 Jan 2020
Accepted: 27 Nov 2020
Published online: 24 Jun 2021 *

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