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Molybdenum Disulfide PVD

PVD hard coatings · Vacuum deposition

MoS2 is a soft, dark-grey solid-lubricant coating selected for dry and vacuum mechanisms.

CNC machiningSheet metalHigh cost $$$$Semi-conductive
Quote a part with MoS2 PVDCompare pvd hard coatings
Molybdenum Disulfide PVD on a machined part

What is MoS2 PVD?

It is only about 50 HV, but its layered crystal structure can deliver friction around 0.02–0.10 in favorable dry or vacuum conditions.

How it works

Sputtering deposits lamellar molybdenum disulfide onto a clean, conductive substrate, often over an adhesion-promoting layer. Weak bonding between sulfur planes lets them shear with low force. Moisture oxidizes or disrupts the lubricating surface, so air humidity and storage matter more than hardness. Deposition is relatively cool but must still be qualified for the substrate.

Why specify it

  • Friction about 0.02–0.10 in dry or vacuum service
  • Vacuum-compatible solid lubrication
  • Thin 1–3 µm film
  • Reduces startup and boundary wear

Where it falls short

  • Only about 50 HV
  • Humidity degrades performance
  • Finite sacrificial wear life
  • Not a corrosion barrier

MoS2 PVD at a glance

MoS2 PVD is strongest on lubricity (98 of 100), at a high cost.

Corrosion protectionLow20 / 100
Surface hardnessLow26 / 100
Cosmetic qualityFair35 / 100
LubricityExcellent98 / 100
Relative costHigh76 / 100
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy

Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion comes from salt-spray life (ASTM B117, log scale) and hardness from the finish layer's Vickers or pencil hardness; cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Economy on the radar is the inverse of cost.

MoS2 PVD key numbers

Typical values from the governing specifications and shop practice; bars are this finish against the highest value among pvd hard coatings finishes.

Thickness1–3 µm0.04–0.12 mil
Hardness40–60 HV
Max service temp.400 °C752 °F
Thickness
1–2 µm
Hardness
40–60 HV — Approximately 50 HV; lubricity, not hardness, is the function.
Electrical
Semi-conductive
Colours
  • dark grey
  • black
Appearance
Dark grey to black, matte and dry.

Where MoS2 PVD sits among all finishes

Surface hardness (Vickers, log scale) against corrosion protection (salt-spray hours, log scale) for every coating FabDigit offers, one cloud per finish group. MoS2 PVD is highlighted; hover a dot for its name or open the full map.

02550751000255075100Corrosion protection (0–100)Surface hardness (HV, log scale, 0–100)Plating — 19 finishesHard coatings — 17 finishesAnodize & conversion — 8 finishesPaint & powder — 7 finisheshard, low corrosion protectionhard and protectiveprotective, softsoft, little protectionType II anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 54BSA anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 52Type I anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 49Hard anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 61PTFE hard anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 61Nitriding — corrosion 55, hardness 73PEO — corrosion 70, hardness 74Sherardizing — corrosion 83, hardness 56Brass plate — corrosion 35, hardness 44Bronze plate — corrosion 40, hardness 49Cadmium plate — corrosion 70, hardness 26Copper plate — corrosion 32, hardness 39Decorative chrome — corrosion 64, hardness 71Electroless copper — corrosion 20, hardness 41Electroless nickel — corrosion 70, hardness 68Nickel plate — corrosion 51, hardness 55Gold plate — corrosion 68, hardness 39Hard chrome — corrosion 40, hardness 73Hot-dip zinc — corrosion 90, hardness 42Nickel-PTFE — corrosion 72, hardness 57Silver plate — corrosion 55, hardness 39Solder plate — corrosion 42, hardness 9Tin plate — corrosion 34, hardness 0Zinc plate — corrosion 60, hardness 30Zinc-nickel — corrosion 86, hardness 60Cerakote — corrosion 83, hardness 27E-coat — corrosion 83, hardness 15Epoxy coat — corrosion 83, hardness 15Powder coat — corrosion 83, hardness 14Wet paint — corrosion 59, hardness 10AlCrN PVD — corrosion 58, hardness 93AlTiN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 94CrN PVD — corrosion 62, hardness 83DLC — corrosion 55, hardness 93TiAlN PVD — corrosion 50, hardness 93TiCN PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 92TiB2 PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 94TiN PVD — corrosion 45, hardness 87WC/C PVD — corrosion 48, hardness 77ZrN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 90CVD alumina — corrosion 70, hardness 85CVD TiCN — corrosion 38, hardness 92CVD TiN — corrosion 45, hardness 87Multilayer CVD — corrosion 62, hardness 88HVOF coating — corrosion 78, hardness 77Plasma spray — corrosion 60, hardness 68Plastic chrome — corrosion 72, hardness 71Electroless plastic — corrosion 58, hardness 39Clear coat — corrosion 20, hardness 12Soft-touch — corrosion 20, hardness 5PLATINGHARD COATINGSANODIZE & CONVERSIONPAINT & POWDERWC/C PVDDLCType II anodizePowder coatZinc plateZinc-nickelHard chromeTiN PVDTin plateCadmium plateE-coatCerakoteWet paintHot-dip zincNitridingHVOF coatingMoS2 PVD — corrosion 20, hardness 26MoS2 PVD
02550751000255075100Corrosion protection (0–100)Surface hardness (HV, log scale, 0–100)Plating — 19 finishesHard coatings — 17 finishesAnodize & conversion — 8 finishesPaint & powder — 7 finishesType II anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 54BSA anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 52Type I anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 49Hard anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 61PTFE hard anodize — corrosion 71, hardness 61Nitriding — corrosion 55, hardness 73PEO — corrosion 70, hardness 74Sherardizing — corrosion 83, hardness 56Brass plate — corrosion 35, hardness 44Bronze plate — corrosion 40, hardness 49Cadmium plate — corrosion 70, hardness 26Copper plate — corrosion 32, hardness 39Decorative chrome — corrosion 64, hardness 71Electroless copper — corrosion 20, hardness 41Electroless nickel — corrosion 70, hardness 68Nickel plate — corrosion 51, hardness 55Gold plate — corrosion 68, hardness 39Hard chrome — corrosion 40, hardness 73Hot-dip zinc — corrosion 90, hardness 42Nickel-PTFE — corrosion 72, hardness 57Silver plate — corrosion 55, hardness 39Solder plate — corrosion 42, hardness 9Tin plate — corrosion 34, hardness 0Zinc plate — corrosion 60, hardness 30Zinc-nickel — corrosion 86, hardness 60Cerakote — corrosion 83, hardness 27E-coat — corrosion 83, hardness 15Epoxy coat — corrosion 83, hardness 15Powder coat — corrosion 83, hardness 14Wet paint — corrosion 59, hardness 10AlCrN PVD — corrosion 58, hardness 93AlTiN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 94CrN PVD — corrosion 62, hardness 83DLC — corrosion 55, hardness 93TiAlN PVD — corrosion 50, hardness 93TiCN PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 92TiB2 PVD — corrosion 40, hardness 94TiN PVD — corrosion 45, hardness 87WC/C PVD — corrosion 48, hardness 77ZrN PVD — corrosion 52, hardness 90CVD alumina — corrosion 70, hardness 85CVD TiCN — corrosion 38, hardness 92CVD TiN — corrosion 45, hardness 87Multilayer CVD — corrosion 62, hardness 88HVOF coating — corrosion 78, hardness 77Plasma spray — corrosion 60, hardness 68Plastic chrome — corrosion 72, hardness 71Electroless plastic — corrosion 58, hardness 39Clear coat — corrosion 20, hardness 12Soft-touch — corrosion 20, hardness 5PLATINGHARD COATINGSANODIZE & CONVERSIONPAINT & POWDERWC/C PVDDLCPowder coatZinc plateMoS2 PVD — corrosion 20, hardness 26MoS2 PVD
Anodize & conversionPlatingPaint & powderHard coatings

Specifications for MoS2 PVD

The documents a drawing cites to define this finish, with the Type / Class rows that apply. Each links to a page explaining the standard.

Drawing call-out

PVD APPLY MoS2 SOLID-LUBRICANT COATING TO DESIGNATED SURFACES, 1–2 µm THICK; DRY-FILM COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION TARGET 0.02–0.10 IN VACUUM; MASK CONTACTS

Which materials take MoS2 PVD?

Verdict per material family, with the grades that behave differently. Each family links to its datasheets in the material library.

Material familyVerdictNotes
Stainless Steel
YesSuitable after activation.
Steel
YesCommon with an adhesion layer.
Titanium
With careAdhesion system required.
Aluminum
LimitedUse a qualified low-temperature cycle.
Brass
LimitedSoft zinc-bearing alloy; decorative PVD is possible, not a wear-tool substrate.
Copper Alloy
LimitedSoft copper alloys do not support a hard nitride; decorative films need a qualified adhesion layer.
Magnesium Alloy
NoMelting point and reactivity exclude conventional PVD tool-coating cycles.
Polymer
NoOrdinary PVD needs conductive support; use a qualified metallized system.
Zinc Alloy
NoMelting point is below typical PVD process temperature.

How MoS2 PVD is applied, and what it does to the part

  1. 1Clean
  2. 2Ion etch
  3. 3Deposit adhesion layer
  4. 4Sputter MoS2
  5. 5Dry package
DimensionsFilm adds 1–3 µm per side; specify the operating atmosphere with the tolerance.
Build-up per side1–3 µm — Allow the specified film thickness on each coated side.
MaskingUsually needed. Mask bonding, electrical-contact, and non-lubricated surfaces.
ElectricalSemi-conductive
Temperature limit400 °C (752 °F) continuous
AppearanceDark grey to black, matte and dry.
Added lead time7–12 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for MoS2 PVD

What to decide on the drawing before the part goes to the finisher.

  1. Define humidity or vacuum level.MoS2 friction is atmosphere-sensitive.
  2. Specify counterface and load.Tribology values are test-system dependent.
  3. Package dry after coating.Moisture degrades the lubricating surface.
  4. Do not use hardness as acceptance criterion alone.The coating is intentionally soft.

MoS2 PVD versus the alternatives

Finishes engineers weigh against MoS2 PVD, and when each wins.

FinishCorrosionHardnessCosmeticCostThicknessChoose it when
MoS2 PVD
this page
202635$$$$1–3 µm—
Tungsten Carbide Carbon PVD
MoS2 PVD vs Tungsten Carbide Carbon PVD →
487750$$$$1–5 µmgreater load capacity in air is required
Diamond-Like Carbon Coating
MoS2 PVD vs Diamond-Like Carbon Coating →
559372$$$$1–3 µmhardness and humid-air durability matter
CorrosionHardnessCosmeticLubricityEconomy
MoS2 PVDTungsten Carbide Carbon PVD

The radar overlays MoS2 PVD with Tungsten Carbide Carbon PVD, its most common alternative — chosen greater load capacity in air is required. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Molybdenum Disulfide PVD is a high-cost finish ($$$$): more expensive than about 82 % of the finishes FabDigit quotes.

Finishing is priced per part with a lot minimum, from FabDigit's own China-side rates. The exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.

Lead time and compliance

Added lead time7–12 working days
RoHSCompliant
NotesThe deposited film is generally RoHS-compliant; dry packaging reduces oxidation.

What MoS2 PVD is used for

  • Satellite hinges
  • Vacuum mechanisms
  • Dry-running actuators
  • Instrument bearings

MoS2 PVD — frequently asked

What is the friction coefficient of MoS2 coating?

In dry gas or vacuum it is often about 0.02–0.10. Humid air can produce higher friction and faster wear.

How hard is MoS2 coating?

It is soft, around 50 HV. Its value comes from lamellar shear, not indentation hardness.

How thick is PVD MoS2?

Typical thickness is 1–3 µm, often 1–2 µm. It adds that amount to each coated surface.

Is MoS2 good in vacuum?

Yes; vacuum removes the moisture that degrades its low-friction behavior. It is widely used for spacecraft and vacuum mechanisms.

MoS2 vs DLC: which is better?

MoS2 can reach 0.02–0.10 friction in vacuum but is soft and humidity-sensitive. DLC is much harder, typically 2000–5000 HV, and usually more durable in air.