Boric Oxide as a Solid Lubricant Additive in Molybdenum Disulfide

摘要

A recent investigation suggests that antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) performs well as an additive in molybdenum disulfide because of its ability to soften at asperity contacts so that the solid lubricant can attain and retain a preferred tribological orientation. This research determined the effectiveness of boric oxide (B2O3), when used as an additive in MoS2, for substrate temperatures ranging from 21C to 316C. This range was used to allow the asperity contact temperature to vary below and above the softening point of B2O3. It was found that a moderate friction coefficient and high wear, which is attributed to the additive acting abrasively, occurred when the asperity contact temperature was well below the softening point of the oxide. When the asperity contact temperature neared the softening point of the oxide, the friction coefficient increased dramatically and the wear volume was reduced. (jes)