Self- lubricated composite materials from the graphite/copper and molybdenum disulfide/copper systems are known for their good mechanical properties, electrical and thermal conductivity, and low coefficient of friction. Appropriate combination of properties could be achieved only in the case of uniformly distributed fine particles of graphite (C) or molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) in the copper (Cu) matrix. A better choice is MoS2 because it has a lower friction coefficient and better mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. The Cu-MoS2 composite also has a significantly better wear resistance both due to MoS2 and the finely dispersed phase formed by the reaction between Cu and MoS2 during sintering.
In this diploma thesis the effect of sintering temperature and time on microstructure and properties of self lubricated composite material Cu-MoS2 have been analysed. Four different sintering temperatures between 750°C and 900°C and three different sintering times (one hour, two hours and four hours) were selected. Several analytical methods were used to analyse the influence of temperature and sintering time on the microstructure, chemical composition, and other properties. Most attention was focused on the following research methods: microstructure analysis by electron microscopy, coefficient of friction and wear resistance measurements, hardness and microhardness measurements and electrical conductivity measurements.
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