Synergetic Effects of Silicon Dioxide and Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoparticles as Additives to Improve Tribological Properties of Ultra‐High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Composites

ABSTRACT Water‐lubricated bearings are prone to severe abrasive wear under low‐speed and heavy‐load conditions. Therefore, developing ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites with superior wear resistance is crucial for water‐lubricated bearings. Herein, the tribological behavior of a novel UHMWPE/Silicon dioxide/Molybdenum disulfide (SiO 2 /MoS 2 ) composite was investigated through a combined experimental and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results demonstrated that the synergistic effect of SiO 2 and MoS 2 significantly improves the tribological properties of UHMWPE. Compared to pure UHMWPE, the composite exhibits a 62.96% reduction in wear rate and achieves an average friction coefficient as low as 0.044. Furthermore, MD simulations visually reveal the synergistic lubrication mechanism formed at the friction interface due to the structural differences between the two fillers, effectively enhancing interfacial slip between the composite and the counterpart ball.