Surface lubrication with thermal- and pH-sensitive PNIPAM-co-PAA-(IF-MoS2/GO) composite microgels under YG8/TC4 contact

In this investigation, the surface tribological behavior of YG8/TC4 contacts under microgel lubrication was explored, utilizing thermal- and pH-sensitive PNIPAM-co-PAA-(IF-MoS 2 /GO) composite microgels as lubricant additives. Through the application of a ball-on-disk reciprocating tribometer, the study demonstrated the outstanding lubrication capabilities of the composite microgels. The lubrication process involving PNIPAM-co-PAA-(IF-MoS 2 /GO) composite microgels initiated a tribo-chemical reaction, leading to the generation of a larger quantity of TiS 2 with exceptional lubricating properties on the friction surface compared to alternative lubrication conditions. The effective isolation of the friction pair by PNIPAM-co-PAA composite microgels contributed to the reduction in tribo-oxidation of the sliding surfaces , while the presence of IF-MoS 2 facilitated the formation of TiS 2 . Furthermore, the facile sliding property of GO nanosheets played a crucial role in achieving overall excellent lubrication performance. The synergistic effects arising from the components in PNIPAM-co-PAA-(IF-MoS 2 /GO) composite microgels introduce a novel and effective strategy for controlling the friction and wear of YG8/TC4 contacts.