Special Articles on Technology and Its Characterization for Synthesis of Inorganic Materials. Lubricity of Synthetic Intercalation Compounds of CrxTaS2 with Layered Structure.

A new solid lubricant of intercalation compounds CrxTaS2, (x=0-0.600) were synthesized, and the antiwear property was tested by using a shell four-ball machine added to lithium stearate grease. Its lubricating properties were compared with those of molybdenum disulfide MoS2 and niobium sulfide Nb1.333S2. The compounds with composition x from 0.250 to O.500exhibited the same, or better, antiwear property and a low friction coefficient than MoS2. In perticular, Cr0.333TaS2 has the best lubrication properties. Scanning electron microscopy photograph and electron probe micro analysis of the wear scar surfaces indicated that the surface is very smooth and the distribution of Ta and S atom were uniform in the case of x=0.333. The best lubricity seems to come from this character.