A novel earthworm-inspired smart lubrication material with self-healing function

Wear is inevitable during the process of materials friction. Herein, inspired by organisms such as earthworms, we have developed a novel material that can repair itself after wear. The self-healing material was fabricated through injecting a phase-change material into the porous matrix to form a composite, which can spontaneously release the internal medium and form a stable lubricating layer. When the lubricating layer is worn, the internal medium can be continuously released to the surface under thermal stimulation, due to the solidifiable/liquid properties of the internal medium, which realize self-healing of the damaged lubricating layer. The as-prepared composite not only provides multiple self-healing and smart lubrication properties, but also maintain stable friction due to the presence of the lubricating layer.