Synthesis, structural and tribological properties of tailored MoSe▫$_{x}$▫ / WS▫$_{x}$▫ based coatings for multi-environment industrial applications

Yaqub, Talha Bin (author), Fernandes, Filipe Daniel (author), Ju, Hongbo (author), Gelaw, Amessalu Atenafu (author), Ferreira, Fabio (author), Kalin, Mitjan (author), Cavaleiro, Albano (author), Evaristo, Manuel (author)

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) coatings have been employed as industrial low friction solid lubricants for machine components operating in vacuum and dry environments. However, their properties degrade in ambient air due to low moisture resistance. Moreover, the pure TMD coatings possess high porosity, low oxidation resistance, and poor adhesion to substrates, leading to easy mechanical exfoliation. In this study, a novel approach of multilayered architecture of coatings deposited from MoSe▫$_{2}$▫ and WS▫$_{2}$▫ targets, with varying period thickness had been introduced as potential solution for components operating in multi-environments. A series of monolayer and multilayered coatings were deposited using DC (direct current) magnetron sputtering technique, to study the influence of coating architecture on the composition, morphology, structure, mechanical and sliding response. The sliding tests were conducted under various conditions, including normal air, dry nitrogen, and multiple temperatures (25 °C, 100 °C, and 200 °C). From 25 °C to 100 °C, temperature increase removed moisture, generally reducing friction, except for the MoSe▫$_{x}$▫ coating, which performed better at room temperature. At 200 °C, wear and friction increased significantly due to enhanced tribo-oxidation. The wear performance in dry nitrogen follows the same trend observed in normal air, but with reduced values. The coatings depicted promising sliding properties in diverse environments with temperature applicability limited to 100 °C. The coating with the lowest period demonstrated the best overall mechanical and tribological performance under the tested conditions selected for this work. The friction was mainly influenced by the atmosphere, while temperature significantly affected both friction and wear performance.

• Language: English
• Keywords: transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), WS2/MoSe2, solid lubricant, dry N2, high temperature, tribology, aerospace
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 16 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 217, art. 111691
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180489
• UDC: 539.92:621.89
• ISSN on article: 0301-679X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111691
• COBISS.SI-ID: 271137283
• Publication date in RUL: 10.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Tribology international
• Shortened title: Tribol. int.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0301-679X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 26558976

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: prehodni kovinski dikalkogenid, trdna maziva, visoke temperature, tribologija, letalstvo