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XPS Analysis

The lubricating effect of graphite flakes or MoS2 is a consequence of their special molecular
structure. The laminar structure of graphite or MoS2 is composed of hexagonal carbon sheets or
S–Mo–S covalent bonds inside layers and the weak van der Waals force between layers (Hu, et al.
(17)). The easy sliding between graphite and MoS2 layers provides them with excellent lubricating
ability. However, layered MoS2 powders are easily oxidized in oxygen-rich and high-temperature
environments, because the rim atoms of MoS2 platelets with dangling bonds have high chemical
activity.

The XPS spectra of the worn surface formed by the MoS2-filled fabric composite rubbing against
a steel pin under a load of 282.24 N is shown in Fig. 7. In the S2p spectrum shown in Fig. 7a, only
two separate peaks are observed. The low-energy peak is so wide that it should be an overlap peak.
The peak at 162.4 eV can be assigned to Mo-S bonding in MoS2. The peak at 164.0 eV is related
to pure sulfur, which may come from the decomposition of MoS2. The peak at 169.1 eV can be
attributed to SO2 4−. In the Mo 3d spectrum (Fig. 7b), the peak at 229.6 eV can be attributed to
the Mo-S bonding in MoS2. And the peak at 232.6 eV corresponds to the Mo-O bonding in MoO3.
The XPS results showed that a large proportion of MoS2 was oxidized into MoO3 during the
sliding process, which contributed negatively to the wear resistance of the MoS2-filled fabric
composite.

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