Tungsten disulfide (WS₂) and tungsten diselenide (WSe₂) are used as solid lubricants. Embedding them as nanoparticles into a polymer matrix (A–OOO polyimide) can synthesize a composite material with self-lubricating properties.

This paper is another result of collaboration with Russian colleagues from St. Petersburg: A Breki, E Vasilyeva, O Tolochko, A Didenko and M Nosonovsky “Frictional properties of a nanocomposite material with a linear polyimide matrix and tungsten diselinide nanoparticle reinforcement” Journal of Tribology 141(8), 082002 doi:10.1115/1.4043853

Results for the A–OOO + 5%WSe₂ nanocomposite material friction vs. steel show a reduction of friction in comparison with the pure polyimide matrix: (a) ten occurrences of the frictional random process, (b) average friction force, (c) statistical variance of the random friction process, and (d) average work of friction.