Synergistic lubrication mechanism of cerium oxide/molybdenum disulfide in phenolic resin coating under boundary lubrication

The effects of micro sized CeO2 particles and molybdenum disulfide on the tribological properties of PF coatings under boundary lubrication conditions were investigated. The results indicate that the addition of merely 1 vol.% CeO2 leads to significant reductions in both the friction coefficient and wear rate of the PF coating, achieving decreases of 67.22% and 83.97%, respectively. When 1 vol.% CeO2 is incorporated into a 7 vol.% MoS2-filled PF composite coating, the friction coefficient and wear rate are reduced to as low as 0.012 and 6×10-7 mm3/Nm, respectively, highlighting a pronounced synergistic effect between CeO₂ and MoS₂ in enhancing friction reduction and anti-wear properties.

The analyses of micro/nano structure and composition of the transfer film reveal that the CeO2 and MoS2 particles released during the friction process promoted the formation of uniform transfer film. Moreover, the transferred debris and frictional chemical products are mixed and compacted, improving the load-bearing capacity and solid lubrication characteristics of the transfer film, effectively compensating for the insufficient oil film during boundary lubrication.