Effect of molybdenum disulfide dispersity and friction test conditions on wear rate of its1%-filled PTFE-
based composites is studied.It is found that under certain test conditions the wear rates of the
composites filled with sub micro-or nanosized filler are similar to reported values for the PTFE
composites filled with 20 mass%–30 vol% of microsized MoS2. It is attributed to accumulation of the
highly dispersed filler particles producing discrete MoS2 coatings over parts of the friction surface.
Results of IR-spectroscopic study of the friction layer polymer show that PTFE macromolecules
undergo tribochemical processes of hydrolytic degradation comprising main chain scission,defluorination,
hydrogenation and hydroxylation presumably catalyzed by highly dispersed MoS2 at higher friction
temperature,which may additionally enhance the composites' wear resistance.