A preparation method for a tungsten sulfide (WS.sub.2) solid lubricating film based on high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) is provided. The preparation method includes the following steps: step 1: depositing a metal conductive film on a surface of a WS.sub.2 target; step 2: using magnetic field sputtering to remove the metal conductive film in a target sputtering area on the surface of the WS.sub.2 target, thereby obtaining a first WS.sub.2 target; and step 3: performing the HiPIMS on the first WS.sub.2 target to obtain the WS.sub.2 solid lubricating film. The preparation method can achieve stable glow discharge of a WS.sub.2 target and use the high deposition energy of HiPIMS to prepare the WS.sub.2 solid lubricating film with high compactness and excellent wear resistance.

A lubrication mechanism of a strain wave gearing is disposed in an interior space of an externally toothed gear and comprises a powder-accommodating bag that stores solid lubricant powder. A diaphragm of the externally toothed gear is repeatedly deflected during the driving of the strain wave gearing. Vibration or deflection is repeatedly imparted to the powder-accommodating bag and the solid lubricant powder is discharged from a powder discharge hole formed in the powder-accommodating bag into the interior space. A site to be lubricated is lubricated with the solid lubricant powder discharged into the interior space. Harmful effects due to a large amount of the solid lubricant powder being supplied to the site to be lubricated at one time can be resolved, and a necessary amount of the solid lubricant powder can be continuously supplied to the site to be lubricated.

A preparation method for a tungsten sulfide (WS.sub.2) solid lubricating film based on high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) is provided. The preparation method includes the following steps: step 1: depositing a metal conductive film on a surface of a WS.sub.2 target; step 2: using magnetic field sputtering to remove the metal conductive film in a target sputtering area on the surface of the WS.sub.2 target, thereby obtaining a first WS.sub.2 target; and step 3: performing the HiPIMS on the first WS.sub.2 target to obtain the WS.sub.2 solid lubricating film. The preparation method can achieve stable glow discharge of a WS.sub.2 target and use the high deposition energy of HiPIMS to prepare the WS.sub.2 solid lubricating film with high compactness and excellent wear resistance.

A nanostructure that includes a multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure composed of a plurality of layers each having a metal chalcogenide composition that has a molecular formula of MX.sub.2, in which M is a metallic element selected from the group consisting of titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), technetium (Tc), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), rhenium (Re), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt), gold (Au), mercury (Hg) and combinations thereof, and X is a chalcogen element selected from the group consisting of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), oxygen (O) and combinations thereof. An outer layer of the multi-layered fullerene-like structure includes at least one sectioned portion that extends along a direction away from the curvature of the multi-layered fullerene-like nano-structure.

A multiphase composite lubricant for a railway lubricant stick that can be used in both low and high temperature applications. The composition of the multiphase composite lubricant includes an amount of a lubricant, an amount of a thermoplastic lattice components that forms a lattice structure, and a polymer extender.

A tribological system, including a main body and a sandwich lubrication, wherein the sandwich lubrication includes a binder-free solid lubricant layer including a solid lubricant, and a lubricant layer including a lubricant. The binder-free solid lubricant layer and the lubricant layer are present as separate layers on the main body and the mass ratio of solid lubricant to lubricant is at most 0.05:1. The solid lubricant includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), metal sulfide, graphite, graphene, boron nitride (hexagonal), calcium phosphate, silicate, layered silicate, or mixtures thereof.

A coated article includes a substrate, and a coating disposed on a surface of the substrate. The coating comprises a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD). A method of forming a coating includes dispersing a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) and optionally tungsten carbide in a solvent to form a mixture, spraying the mixture on a surface of a substrate, evaporating the solvent, and forming a coating on the substrate comprising the TMD.

A cold spray lubricant for forming a coating includes an alloy feedstock consisting of a metal powder such as copper or nickel, and a solid lubricant, such as tungsten disulfide (WS.sub.2) powder or molybdenum disulfide (MoS.sub.2).