Abstract

With the development of intellectualization and multi-functionalization in space motion components, electrical contact components are required to withstand multiple challenges including high vacuum environment, mechanical stress, and load current. This has stimulated research into current-carrying friction and wear technologies. The current-carrying characteristics of lubricating materials in vacuum environment are closely related to service conditions (load, current, and frequency). However, relevant research reports have been relatively scarce. The Cu/MoS2 composite film is prepared by magnetron sputtering technology, and the composition, microstructure, mechanical properties and electrical properties of the film are systematically investigated. Current-carrying tribological tests are conducted on the Cu/MoS2 composite film under various operating conditions in a high vacuum environment, which reveals its tribological behavior and wear mechanisms. Study shows that the wear mechanisms of the film during the current-carrying friction process in vacuum are abrasive wear and adhesive wear, accompanied by arc erosion. Increasing the load and reducing the current can both mitigate adhesive wear caused by current thermal effect, while also suppressing arc erosion to a certain extent, thereby enhancing the lubricity and wear resistance. Increasing the frequency generates more arc discharge, which reduces the lubricity, while it may also degrade current quality to affect the transmission of electrical signals.

Keywords Plus：WEAR BEHAVIOR，FRICTION，PERFORMANCE，SYSTEM，MOS2

Published in TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL，Volume226；10.1016/j.triboint.2026.112702，FEB 2027