Dry friction and wear properties of intermetallics MoSi2

The dry friction and wear properties of intermetallics MoSi2 against 45 steel under different loads were investigated with M-2 type friction and wear tester. Scanning electric microscope (SEM) equipment with microprobe was employed to analyze the morphology of the friction surface. Results show that the dry friction and wear properties are deeply affected by load. The wear rate of MoSi2 is the maximum of 36.1 μg/m at the load of 80 N. At the condition of the load of 150 N, MoSi2 material has the better friction and wear properties: friction coefficient is 0.28 and wear rate is 10.6 μg/m. With the load increasing, the main friction mechanisms change from microslip and plastic deformation to adhesive effect, and the main wear mechanisms change from plough-groove wear and oxidation-fatigue wear to adhesive wear.