Lubrication and Drag Reduction for Polymer-Coated Interfaces

Lubrication is a well-established strategy for reducing interfacial frictional energy dissipation and preventing surface wear. Various lubricants have been developed, including mineral oil materials, vegetable oil materials, polymer-based materials, and solid lubrication materials. Among these, poly...

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Main Authors: Qiang Yang, Xiang Ben, Jingkai Lin, Yuhao Zhang, Li Xiang, Zhiyong Wei, Yajing Kan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Lubricants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/119
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author Qiang Yang
Xiang Ben
Jingkai Lin
Yuhao Zhang
Li Xiang
Zhiyong Wei
Yajing Kan
author_facet Qiang Yang
Xiang Ben
Jingkai Lin
Yuhao Zhang
Li Xiang
Zhiyong Wei
Yajing Kan
author_sort Qiang Yang
collection DOAJ
description Lubrication is a well-established strategy for reducing interfacial frictional energy dissipation and preventing surface wear. Various lubricants have been developed, including mineral oil materials, vegetable oil materials, polymer-based materials, and solid lubrication materials. Among these, polymer-based lubrication materials have gained significant interest due to their versatility, leading to the development of tailored strategies to meet diverse application demands. In load-bearing scenarios, polymer-based materials enhance interfacial hydration, exhibiting exceptional frictional properties, including extremely low friction coefficients, high load-bearing capacity, and superior wear resistance. In contrast, in non-load-bearing scenarios, polymer-based coatings improve interfacial hydrophobicity, promoting boundary slip and reducing frictional resistance at the solid–liquid interface (SLI), making them an important strategy for drag reduction. Despite substantial advancements in polymer-based lubrication and drag reduction (PBLDR), the underlying microscopic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental principles governing PBLDR. The main topics covered will include the following: (1) the fundamentals of the surface forces and hydrodynamic force, (2) the mechanisms underlying hydration lubrication, (3) joint lubrication and polymer brush lubrication, (4) the friction tuning and interfacial drag reduction via polymer coating design, and (5) the potential and limitations of polymer-based materials. By summarizing recent advancements in PBLDR, this work will provide valuable contributions to future research and applications in related fields.
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spelling doaj-art-2bb84f6cf6eb49a0b3a43e4c69d467bb2025-08-20T02:42:25ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422025-03-0113311910.3390/lubricants13030119Lubrication and Drag Reduction for Polymer-Coated InterfacesQiang Yang0Xiang Ben1Jingkai Lin2Yuhao Zhang3Li Xiang4Zhiyong Wei5Yajing Kan6Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, ChinaLubrication is a well-established strategy for reducing interfacial frictional energy dissipation and preventing surface wear. Various lubricants have been developed, including mineral oil materials, vegetable oil materials, polymer-based materials, and solid lubrication materials. Among these, polymer-based lubrication materials have gained significant interest due to their versatility, leading to the development of tailored strategies to meet diverse application demands. In load-bearing scenarios, polymer-based materials enhance interfacial hydration, exhibiting exceptional frictional properties, including extremely low friction coefficients, high load-bearing capacity, and superior wear resistance. In contrast, in non-load-bearing scenarios, polymer-based coatings improve interfacial hydrophobicity, promoting boundary slip and reducing frictional resistance at the solid–liquid interface (SLI), making them an important strategy for drag reduction. Despite substantial advancements in polymer-based lubrication and drag reduction (PBLDR), the underlying microscopic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental principles governing PBLDR. The main topics covered will include the following: (1) the fundamentals of the surface forces and hydrodynamic force, (2) the mechanisms underlying hydration lubrication, (3) joint lubrication and polymer brush lubrication, (4) the friction tuning and interfacial drag reduction via polymer coating design, and (5) the potential and limitations of polymer-based materials. By summarizing recent advancements in PBLDR, this work will provide valuable contributions to future research and applications in related fields.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/119hydration lubricationlubrication and drag-reduction mechanismpolymer coatingfriction control
spellingShingle Qiang Yang
Xiang Ben
Jingkai Lin
Yuhao Zhang
Li Xiang
Zhiyong Wei
Yajing Kan
Lubrication and Drag Reduction for Polymer-Coated Interfaces
Lubricants
hydration lubrication
lubrication and drag-reduction mechanism
polymer coating
friction control
title Lubrication and Drag Reduction for Polymer-Coated Interfaces
title_full Lubrication and Drag Reduction for Polymer-Coated Interfaces
title_fullStr Lubrication and Drag Reduction for Polymer-Coated Interfaces
title_full_unstemmed Lubrication and Drag Reduction for Polymer-Coated Interfaces
title_short Lubrication and Drag Reduction for Polymer-Coated Interfaces
title_sort lubrication and drag reduction for polymer coated interfaces
topic hydration lubrication
lubrication and drag-reduction mechanism
polymer coating
friction control
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/119
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AT yuhaozhang lubricationanddragreductionforpolymercoatedinterfaces
AT lixiang lubricationanddragreductionforpolymercoatedinterfaces
AT zhiyongwei lubricationanddragreductionforpolymercoatedinterfaces
AT yajingkan lubricationanddragreductionforpolymercoatedinterfaces