Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2011
The effects of forming interlayers and/or bombarding with ions on the tribological properties of the sputter-deposited MoS2 films were investigated. The MoS2 films on substrates of Ti-alloy, martensitic stainless steel and high speed tool steel with TIN interlayers were evaluated by ball/disk sliding tests under ultra-high vacuum condition. Furthermore, nitrogen- or sulfer-ion-bombarded MoS2 films tested too. The test results showed correlation between the surface hardness of substrates and the wear life of MoS2 films. The wear life of the ion-bombarded MoS2 films was improved by mixing film/substrate interface.