Investigation of second phase concentration effects on tribological and electrical properties of Cu–WS2 composites

In this preliminary study, a set of self-lubricating copper-tungsten disulfide (Cu-WS2) composites are prepared via a powder metallurgy route to analyze the effects of solid lubricant concentration on their tribological, electrical and wettability properties. An extensive characterization is performed to preliminarily assess the potential application of these metal matrix composites (MMCs) in sliding electrical contacts working under harsh conditions. The experimental results reveal the beneficial effect of WS2 on the wear behavior of the prepared composites, as demonstrated by friction coefficient, specific wear rate and wear coefficients results. A second phase content in the 10–15 wt% range appears to guarantee the better combination of the desired features.