Effects of proton and electron irradiation on the structural and tribological properties of MoS2/polyimide

To study the structural and tribological properties of MoS2/polyimide (MoS2/PI) composite under the irradiation environment of proton and electron, the MoS2/PI composites were investigated in a ground-based simulation facility, in which the energy of proton and electron was 25 keV and the flux was 2.5 × 1014 cm−2 s−1. The experimental results revealed that the simplex and combined irradiation of proton and electron induced bond break and cross-link, proton irradiation can break the PI bond easier than electron irradiation and then formed the graphite-like structure at surface area of the samples. Irradiation decreased the friction coefficient and wear rate remarkably of the composites comparing with the pristine one. The wear rate increased with the increasing of the proton and combined radiation time, and decreased with the electron radiation conditions.

► The properties of PI composite irradiated by proton and electron have been studied. ► The structural changes of PI composite resulted from irradiation was explored. ► Irradiation decreased the friction coefficient and wear rate of PI composite.