Abstract
The tungsten disulfide $(WS_2)$ solid lubricant was synthesized by two different reaction processes, i.e., the reaction between $CS_2$ gas phase and solid $WO_3$powder, and the vapour phase transport method of tungsten and sulfur in a high vacuum. The chemical and physical characteristics of synthesized $WS_2$powder were analyzed in terms of the average particle size, morphology, crystalline phase etc. in comparison with those of commercial $WS_2$powder. The solid $WO_3$ powder with the average size of 0.2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ was reacted with $CS_2$gas flowed with$N_2$or 96%$N_2{\times}4%H_2$forming gas for 36 h and 24 h at 90$0^{\circ}C$ respectively. $WS_2$ crystalline phase was then formed through the intermediate phase of .$W_{20}O_{58}$ In the case of vapour phase transport method, the 3.5 wt% iodine was added as a vapour transport reagent into the composition of tungsten and sulfur powders maintaining a constant molar ratio of W:S=1:2.2. The mixture was then heat treated at 85$0^{\circ}C$ for 2 weeks in vacuum. The reaction product obtained showed the average size of 12 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and the hexagonal plate shape of typical solid lubricant with 2H-$WS_2$crystalline phase.
