Fabrication of Low-Friction Cu-Based Composite Coatings Using WS2@(Cu2O/Cu) Core–Shell Powders and Their Tribofilm Formation Mechanism
摘要
To address the thermal decomposition of WS2 during thermal spraying and enhance the solid lubrication performance of WS2-containing coatings, this study prepared WS2@(Cu2O/Cu) core–shell powders via a facile chemical replacement method. These powders were then blended with Cu powder to fabricate Cu/WS2/Cu2O composite coatings using atmospheric plasma spraying. Quantitative XRD analysis showed that compared with the directly mixed Cu/WS2 powder, the core–shell powder effectively reduced both the loss and decomposition rates of WS2 during plasma spraying. At 15 wt.% WS2 in raw powders, the WS2 loss rate decreased from 87.1 to 71.2%, and the WS2 decomposition rate dropped from 42.3 to 28.1%. Reciprocating ball-on-disk wear tests demonstrated significantly improved tribological properties of this coating. Under a 20 N load, its coefficient of friction (COF = 0.09) was 39% and the wear rate was 17% of the coating prepared with mixed Cu/WS2 powders, respectively. XPS and EDS analyses revealed that a Cu2O tribofilm formed on the surface of the copper-based coating during friction. The Cu2O nanoparticles and WS2 in the core–shell powder promoted the formation of a more continuous and homogeneous lubricating film—mainly composed of Cu2O and WSxOy—which accounted for the coating’s superior tribological performance.