Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) is one of the most widely used solid lubricants applied in different ways on the surfaces under friction. In this work, AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel was coated with MoS 2 , using thermo-diffusion method at different temperatures and times. Coatings properties were investigated using SEM, EDX, XRD and FTIR, Hardness Tester and Roughness tester. The results illustrated the formation of a uniform layer on the surface, containing MoS 2 and MoO 3-X phases. The thickness, grain size and the hardness of the coatings were 20-50 μm, 400-1000 nm and 350-550 HV respectively. Friction tests carried out using ball-on-disc method under normal loads of 10 N under ambient conditions showed values of the friction coefficient 0.30-0.40. In addition, the kinetics of diffusion layers between the substrate and the coating were also investigated. It was found that there at steady temperature there is a parabolic relationship between the thickness of the diffusion layer and the treatment time. The activation energy for the process was estimated to be 143 kJ mol . Depending on the treatment time and temperature, the thicknesses of diffusion layer varied between 0.5 and 2.5 microns.