MoS₂ composite films on Ti alloy prepared by ion-beam-enhanced deposition

MoS₂ and MoS₂-Ti composite films were produced on Ti alloy substrate by ion-beam-enhanced deposition (IBED) technique combined with ion-beam sputtering (IBS) method. The morphology, microstructure, bonding strength, hardness and constituent distribution of the films were studied. The wear resistance and the fretting damage behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy coated with the films were evaluated. It is found that the films become denser and harder and with higher bonding strength compared with sputtered films. The concentration of Ti dopant permitted in the films prepared by the present method is higher than that of sputtered films. As Ti dopant concentration is proper, the new method can produce basal orientation films with excellent tribological behavior. The optimized MoS₂-Ti composite films can improve the resistance of wear and fretting damage (fretting wear and fretting fatigue) of Ti alloy significantly. Under the gross slip conditions with severe wear, the effect of the optimized MoS₂-Ti composite film is even better than that of shot peening in improving fretting fatigue performance of Ti alloy.