Effect of Various Vapors on Coefficient of Friction of Clean Molybdenum Disulfide

Abstract

Friction tests on thin film of molybdenum disulfide deposited by electro-phoretic coating from suspension in acetone were performed in high vacuum. The results show the characteristic feature of a clean surface; that is, the friction was not the lowest at high vacuum and some adsorbed vapors, especially, hydrocarbons reduced the friction. Results indicate that molybdenum disulfide shows typical vapor lubrication like the graphite, and are summarized by “adsorption potential.”