Novel Approach to the Fabrication of an Alumina-MoS2 Self-Lubricating Composite via the In Situ Synthesis of Nanosized MoS2

The fabrication of a self-lubricating ceramic composite with MoS₂ as the solid lubricant is extremely difficult given the high temperature sensitivity of MoS₂. In this study, a hydrothermal method was utilized for the in situ synthesis of nanosized-MoS₂ in Al₂O₃ ceramic to fabricate an Al₂O₃-MoS₂ self-lubricating composite. The composite exhibited excellent self-lubricating properties with low friction coefficient and wear rate in a high-vacuum environment because of the efficient formation of self-lubricating films from the finely structured MoS₂ in the Al₂O₃ matrix. The results of this study establish a new approach to the fabrication of self-lubricating ceramic composites with temperature-sensitive solid lubricants.