Synergistic lubrication mechanisms and performance regulation of wide-temperature-range wear-resistant and self-lubricating composites: A review of advanced preparation techniques

Wide-temperature-range wear-resistant and self-lubricating composite materials are key functional materials that ensure the long-life and high-reliability operation of systems in aerospace, new energy technologies, and other high-end equipment under extreme conditions. This paper systematically reviews the preparation methods and performance optimization strategies for wide-temperature-range wear-resistant and self-lubricating composite materials, organized into three approaches: integral forming, surface coating, and functional film deposition. It covers mainstream techniques such as hot-pressing sintering (HPS), spark plasma sintering (SPS), laser cladding (LC), spraying, and thin-film preparation. By comparing across-process dimensions, this paper focuses on investigating the synergistic lubrication mechanisms between various substrates (such as Cu, Ni, Ti, and high-entropy alloys (HEA)) and lubricating phases (Ag, MoS 2 , MAX phases, etc.), and their effects on tribological properties across the temperature range of 25-1000 °C. The aim is to provide guidance for the selection, preparation, and application of lubricating materials under various operating conditions. Additionally, the synergistic use of multiple lubricating phases working synergistically, regulating interfacial structures, and optimizing process parameters are the key to enhancing material performance across a wide temperature ranges. As preparation techniques become increasingly diverse and various processes offer distinct advantages, future research should further focus on the requirements of different application scenarios.