MXene/PFW bionic “sandwich” structure enables functional self-lubricating of wood-based composites

The terminal groups of Mxene have a strong affinity for polymers, giving them great potential for the synthesis of advanced lubricating fillers. In this paper, polytetrafluoro wax (PFW) was embedded between the layers of MXene to form MXene/PFW complexes which used as lubricating fillers and mixed with wood-based slurry. High-density poplar wood composites (HPW/MXene/PFW) were obtained via structural self-assembly in vacuum filtration process, which displayed the durable stability of friction coefficient (0.18) and lower volume wear rate [9.58 × 10−3 mm3/(N·M)] than pure wood-based materials [12.10 × 10−3 mm3/(N·M)]. It is mainly due to the strengthening effect of the lignin-cellulose cross-linked network and the synergistic self-lubricating effect of MXene/PFW, and else the introduction of MXene can make the self-lubricating transfer film more uniform, smooth and robust during the friction process.