Synergetic lubricating effect of MoS2 and Ti3SiC2 on tribological properties of NiAl matrix self-lubricating composites over a wide temperature range

• Tribological properties of NATMs from RT to 800 °C were tested.
• Ti3SiC2–MoS2 brought about an improvement in tribological behavior of NATMs.
• Synergetic effect of Ti3SiC2–MoS2 was key to tribological performance of NATMs.
• NATM5 showed the best self-lubricating performance and tribological properties.

NiAl matrix self-lubricating composites with MoS2 and Ti3SiC2 lubricants were prepared by spark plasma sintering. The tribological behaviors of the NiAl–Ti3SiC2–MoS2 composites against Si3N4 were investigated from room temperature to 800 °C. The results showed that the composites exhibited excellent self-lubricating and anti-wear properties over a wide temperature range. At 400 °C, the composites containing 5Ti3SiC2–5MoS2 (wt.%) had a very low friction coefficient of about 0.13 and a low wear rate of 4.5 × 10−5 mm3 N−1 m−1. MoS2 played the main role of lubrication at low temperatures, while Ti3SiC2 was responsible for low friction at high temperatures. Ti3SiC2 and MoS2 lubricants in the NiAl–Ti3SiC2–MoS2 composites showed the excellent synergetic lubricating effect over a wide temperature range from room temperature to 800 °C.

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