Lubrication on Demand: A Stress‐Adaptive and Self‐Repairing Material

Abstract Organisms in nature exhibit uniquely evolved structures with mechanical adaptability, allowing them to respond effectively to dynamic variations in interfacial friction and lubrication. Drawing inspiration from the exudation‐based lubrication mechanism of articular cartilage, this study presented a biomimetic self‐adaptive lubricating material prototype that combined stress‐responsive lubrication with damage‐induced self‐repairing. The material integrated a high‐strength polyurethane acrylate (PUA) matrix with silica particles containing internal oil reservoirs that release lubricant under pressure. It exhibited adaptive frictional behavior, transitioning from high friction (μ≈0.24 at 10 MPa) to low friction (μ≈0.07 at 80 MPa) depending on the applied load. This switchable response arises from a pressure‐driven exudation process at the material interface. Sliding bearings are fabricated using adaptive material to demonstrate practical feasibility, enabling controllable interfacial lubrication during operation. These findings highlighted the potential application prospects in intelligent systems and robotic interfaces.