Abstract
Rice husk carbon/molybdenum disulfide (RHC/MoS2) nanoparticles were prepared by a chemical precipitation method in order to comprehensively utilize the rice husk. 3-Aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (ATS) was used as a surface modifier to promote the dispersion capability of RHC/MoS2 particles in polyethylene glycol. The tribological behavior of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with different amount of modified particles was investigated using a ball-disk tribometer at the different velocities and loads. A three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning microscope (LSM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to clarify the friction and wear mechanisms of modified composite particles in PEG. Results show that the modified RHC/MoS2 has good friction characteristics and dispersion in PEG. Modified RHC/MoS2 particles can effectively improve the wear resistance and friction reduction properties of PEG. The optimal additions of two kinds of particles are both 0.5 wt%. Friction and wear mechanism of composite particles were ascribed to the tribofilm that came from the components of composite particles.
Acknowledgements
The authors express their thanks to Nana Zhou, Yongjie Shi, and Zhiqiang Tu for their assistance in using the SEM/EDS and HRTEM images.