The Role of Cerium in the Resistance of an MoS2-Containing Composite Brush Plating Layer to Humid Atmosphere

MoS2 is an excellent solid lubricant widely used for reducing friction. However, moisture is very harmful to its solid lubrication property because MoS2 is easily oxidized to form Mo6+ and S6+ in a humid atmosphere. In order to improve its oxidation resistance, a study on the role of a rare earth element Ce in the resistance of a Ni-Cu-P/Mo-2 brush plating layer to the humid atmosphere was carried out. It was found that cerium can effectively stabilize the solid lubrication property of MoS2 due to its preferential adsorption on the surface of MoS2 particles, the adsorbed layer serving as a barrier to oxidation. This study shows that the rare earth element Ce can be deposited from a water plating solution.