Solid Lubricant Helps Prevent Friction at High Temperatures
Researchers have discovered a lubricating mechanism that can reduce friction in machinery at extremely high temperatures.

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Through a multi-university collaboration, researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a new, solid lubricating mechanism that can reduce friction in machinery at extremely high temperatures. It works well beyond the breakdown temperature of traditional solid lubricants such as graphite, and the findings were published in Nature Communications.
“This breakthrough solid-state lubricant could change how we design materials for high-tech engines, making them last longer and work better under extreme conditions,” said Rebecca Cai, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and one of the authors of the study. “After decades of research, only about 20 solid lubricants have been identified.”
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Subscribe for FREEGiven the importance of materials in emerging areas like advanced manufacturing, these findings position Virginia Tech as a leader in innovative technologies and cutting-edge research with opportunities for transdisciplinary problem-solving.
Reference: Zhang Z, Hershkovitz E, An Q, et al. Spinel oxide enables high-temperature self-lubrication in superalloys. Nat Commun. 2024;15(1):10039. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54482-w
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