Tribological Properties and Synergistic Lubrication Mechanism of Pressure‐Induced Flow Self‐Lubricating MoS ₂ / PTFE Composites

ABSTRACT The practical application of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in tribological fields is often limited by its poor load‐bearing capacity. In order to overcome this bottleneck, the present study utilized molybdenum disulfide (MoS ₂ ) as a filler and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the matrix material. A series of PTFE‐based self‐lubricating composites were fabricated through the synergistic application of pressure‐induced flow (PIF) forming and a rapid cooling process. The results indicate that the synergistic effect of PIF and rapid cooling promotes the formation of a highly ordered extended‐chain crystalline structure within the material, constructing a unique microstructure composed of nodes, connecting fibrils, and micro‐voids. This optimized structure significantly enhances the material's crystallinity, resulting in a more perfected crystalline arrangement. The resulting microstructure confers the material with significant free volume, thereby effectively enhancing load transfer efficiency. Consequently, the self‐lubricating material achieves a substantial increase in load‐bearing capacity while maintaining a low friction coefficient. This study proposes an effective processing pathway for the design of high‐performance PTFE‐based composites intended for harsh operating conditions.