Very high energy (75 MeV) ion beam irradiation is used to modify the adhesion of thick MoS2 films on stainless steel substrates. This new approach permits the treatment of thicker films of MoS2 than was hitherto possible. Scratch adhesion tests were carried out to assess the adhesion of the coating to the substrate. In the unirradiated case the loss of coating occurs due to chipping outside the scratch. This loss of coating does not occur in the irradiated case. The spallation inside the scratch is delayed drastically to higher loads after the irradiation showing significant improvement in the adhesion of the MoS2 coating to the stainless steel substrate. Irradiation does not change the friction significantly.