Mo 2 TiC 2 MXene Driven Enhancement of Contact Sliding and Wear Properties of Shape Memory Polyurethane

ABSTRACT Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are increasingly being explored for soft robotics, deployable structures, biomedical devices, and related applications. However, their poor wear resistance and frictional instability under repeated mechanical contact remain major bottlenecks to practical implementation. In this study, we report, for the first time, the use of double transition metal carbide Mo 2 TiC 2 MXene as a booster for tribological performance of shape memory polyurethane (PU). While even 0.5 wt.% Mo 2 TiC 2 MXene visibly decreases the friction and wear of PU, the incorporation of 2.0 wt.% Mo 2 TiC 2 MXene causes a ≈83% decrease in friction (coefficient of friction less than 0.1) and nearly 99.4% wear rate reduction compared to pristine PU. The post‐wear analysis reveals a stable MXene‐derived tribofilm formation on both the wear track and counterface, which effectively lowers the interfacial shear and prevents direct asperity contact. Additionally, the layered structure and high stiffness of Mo 2 TiC 2 MXene improve load sharing and resistance to plastic deformation. Thermo‐mechanical cyclic testing reveals the shape memory behavior of composite is preserved, cyclic stability improved and other analytical characterizations corroborate with functional characteristics. These findings highlight a promising strategy for designing a durable, low‐friction SMP systems for advanced engineering and strategic applications.