The wear and friction behavior of compressed compacts of molybdenum disulfide was examined during sliding in air against a 0.45 percent carbon steel disk. The contact pressure was 0.082 through 0.412 MPa, and the sliding speed was 0.03 through 5.00 m/s. The specific wear rate (wear volume per unit sliding distance/load) under various experimental conditions was found to be a simple function of a parameter fPV, corresponding to the frictional heat. It was noted with interest that the wear of molybdenum disulfide compacts decreased when sliding conditions were made more severe.Presented as an American Society of Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASLEIASME Lubrication Conference In New Orleans, Loulsiana, October 5–7, 1981