[T2] Compaction & Sintering

[14A-T2-09] Improvement of the Tribological Properties of Iron-Based Self-Lubricating Composites by Modification of the Sintering Atmosphere

G. Araüjo de Lima¹, J. Zimmermann de Assunçäo², A. N. Klein², *K. Pagnan Furlan³ (1.University of Parma, Department of Engineering and Architecture, Italy, 2.Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 3.Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Advanced Ceramics, Integrated Materials Systems Group, Germany)

Keywords:self-lubricating composites, solid lubricants, molybdenum disulfide, sintering

In this work, powder compaction and solid-state sintering are employed to fabricate iron-based self-lubricating composites containing MoS2 and graphite. Previous studies have shown that MoS2 reacts with iron matrices during sintering, making the production of Fe-MoS2 composites challenging. We hereby demonstrate that a modification in the sintering atmosphere improves the composites' tribological properties due to a synergic effect of retardation of the solid-state reaction and increase of the matrix microhardness related to the nitrogen intake. The composites sintered in a mixed Ar/H2/N2 atmosphere exhibited, on average, a lower dry coefficient of friction compared to those sintered in Ar/H2.