Macroscale Superlubricity Composites with Self‐Healing Functions
Abstract Achieving macroscale superlubricity with self‐healing functions in materials is pivotal to diminishing friction and prolonging the service life in mechanical engineering, yet challenges remain in intricate design and the fundamental trade‐off between these two functions. Here, oil (polyalphaolefin (PAO) and organic molybdenum (MoDTC))‐solvent (dibutyl phthalate, DBP) hybrid microcapsules serving as bifunctional fillers are incorporated to polymer composite matrices. The friction‐induced decomposition of MoDTC to nanoflakes leads to the formation of the ordered layer‐by‐layer homojunctions and establishment of the heterogeneous interface, where the reconstruction of the interface governs the achievement of superlubricity (μ ≈ 0.0065).The combination of the submicron‐asperities constructed by submicron particles (∼200 nm), the hierarchical film at the interface, and hydrodynamic effect provides a synergistic effect, playing a critical role in achieving robust macroscale superlubricity (lasting 18 h, sliding distance over 430 m). Additionally, the effective self‐healing behavior of this macroscale superlubricity material is realized through the physical insertion of DBP molecules with a healing depth of damage up to 30 µm and a good efficiency of 86%. These findings enable a novel approach to achieving macroscale superlubricity on the surface of intelligent composites, and can offer new solutions for durable and high‐performance motional components for industrial applications.
Authors
- Peili Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5924-6109)
- Xiaoyi Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7916-9623)
- Hao Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3759-8352)
- Min Ji
- Mengyu Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1286-3965)
- Guoxin Xie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3586-8315)
- Lin Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9136-5249)
Institutions
- Beijing Institute of Technology (CN)
- Tsinghua University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Published
- 2025-10-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202520143
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Tribology and Wear Analysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.86