Pressure-induced exfoliation of inorganic fullerene-like WS2 particles in a Hertzian contact

Abstract

Nanoparticles are potential additives for the improvement of lubricant properties, because of the structural modifications they undergo under high pressures in mechanical contacts. The behavior of inorganic fullerene-like WS2 nanoparticles (IF-WS2) under high isotropic pressures of up to 20GPa generated in a diamond anvil cell was studied and compared to the response of the lamellar 2H phase of WS2. The same materials were then subjected to static uniaxial pressures in a Hertzian contact in the GPa range. The evolution of the particles as a function of pressure was studied by in situ Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy at the end of the test. Data analysis shows that IF-WS2 particles resist high hydrostatic pressures well, but they are totally exfoliated by uniaxial compression in a Hertzian contact under low pressure. These results explain the excellent tribological properties at ambient temperature of IF-WS2 nanolubricant that have previously been attributed to the nested nanospheres during the friction process but whose origin had not been clearly identified.