Spectroscopic Investigations of MoO3/CuO Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites extended a wide area of research in Engineering and allied sectors. Molybdenum is an important element used in tribology. For lubrication applications, most of lamellar/layered solid lubricants fail in open air and high temperatures above 773 K, as they turn into oxides. Mixed Oxide such as MoO3- CuO alloy or composite can provide enhanced frictional performance at different high temperatures. In the present book, we synthesized MoO3-CuO composite nanopowders at low cost by mechanical milling and characterized by XRD, SEM with EDS, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy and TGA/DTA. X-Ray diffraction pattern demonstrates the peaks correspond to orthorhombic phase of α-MoO3 and Monoclinic phase of β-CuO. The average crystalline sizes of the two samples were found to be in 16 and 24nm. Thermogravimetry analysis and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) of MoO3-CuO revealed that the dual phase mixed oxide is stable up to 982 K with a negligible weight loss. Hence the synthesized mixed lubricous oxide nanocomposite powders can be used as a solid lubricant at elevated temperatures.