MoS2-Ti composite films having (002) orientation and low Ti content

MoS2 is a solid lubricant exhibiting the properties like graphite as structure. The selection and control of deposition parameters should be attached importance very much since it exposes the properties desired from tribological and mechanical directions. Its usage is limited at atmospheric conditions because it is very sensitive to humidity. Therefore, both mechanical strength and resistant to oxidation can be provided by adding a suitable selected interleaving metal into MoS2 matrix and by using suitable deposition parameters. In this work, MoS2-Ti, composite films were grown on AISI 52100 steel by PMS (pulsed magnetron sputtering), and evaluated mechanically, structurally and tribologically. The produced film exhibited a low friction coefficient, low wear rate and significantly high wear life. This development was attributed to (002) basal plane orientation which is chemically inert, and low %Ti content and the use of pulsed-dc which is offers a stable deposition process, and also the accordance between the hardness values of substrate and film.