Next Article in Journal
Preparation of Tea Tree Essential Oil@Chitosan-Arabic Gum Microcapsules and Its Effect on the Properties of Waterborne Coatings
Previous Article in Journal
Influence of Beryllium Addition on the Microstructure, Corrosion, and Wear Properties of Cu-Al-Ni Shape Memory Alloys
Previous Article in Special Issue
Properties of Diamond-like Coatings in Tribological Systems Lubricated with Ionic Liquid
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Coatings
Volume 15
Issue 9
10.3390/coatings15091104
coatings-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Review

Research Progress on the Preparation and Tribological Properties of Self-Lubricating Coatings Fabricated on Light Alloys

by
Ruimeng Zhang
,
Rui Li
,
Zhen Yang
,
Jiayi Cheng
,
Hongliang Zhang
*,
Xue Cui
and
Zhisheng Nong
*
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang 110136, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Coatings 2025, 15(9), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091104
Submission received: 11 August 2025 / Revised: 9 September 2025 / Accepted: 18 September 2025 / Published: 20 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribological and Mechanical Properties of Coatings)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Lightweight alloys, such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium alloys, are extensively utilized in the aerospace, transportation, and military domains owing to their low density, high specific strength, and outstanding fatigue resistance. Nevertheless, their inherently low hardness and inferior wear resistance give rise to substantial friction and wear issues, thereby restricting their operational reliability and service lifespan. To address this concern, surface treatments employed in the preparation of self-lubricating coatings have assumed a pivotal role. This study conducts a comprehensive review of the research advancements regarding typical self-lubricating coatings, with a particular emphasis on their preparation methodologies and performance characteristics. Ultimately, the principal challenges within this field are systematically summarized, and prospects for future development are put forward.

1. Introduction

In recent years, with the rapid advancement of industries such as aerospace, transportation, and defense, there has been a growing demand for components and workpieces capable of performing reliably under extreme conditions, including high temperatures (T > 350 °C) and high pressures (P > 20 MPa) [1]. This has imposed increasingly stringent requirements on the comprehensive properties of materials. Aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and their alloys have been widely utilized in the aforementioned fields due to their favorable characteristics, including low density, high specific strength, and excellent fatigue resistance [2,3,4]. Nevertheless, these light alloys possess inherent drawbacks, such as low hardness and inadequate wear resistance. Consequently, friction and wear issues are likely to occur during their service life [5].
Wear, as a critical factor that initiates mechanical failures and leads to material degradation, can substantially affect the operational reliability and service life of working components [6]. Under extreme operating conditions, wear not only accelerates the surface deterioration of components but also causes significant energy loss and heat generation. These effects, in turn, further intensify the wear process and may ultimately lead to component failure [7,8].
Consequently, to ensure the efficient and stable operation of workpieces, surface treatment for the preparation of self-lubricating coatings is of paramount importance. Self-lubricating coatings have found extensive applications in the field of friction and wear, and have become a prominent focus of current research. This is due to their excellent wear resistance, prolonged service life, and the advantage of being independent of external lubricants [9]. Self-lubricating coatings fall under the category of solid lubricants [10]. Their defining characteristic is the ability to generate a lubricating effect automatically during the friction process, thereby minimizing friction and wear to the greatest extent possible over a wide temperature range (from room temperature (RT) to 800 °C) [11,12,13].
Commonly encountered self-lubricating materials currently include MoS2 [14,15,16], h-BN [17,18,19], PTFE [20,21,22], graphite [23], graphene [24,25,26], carbon nanotubes (CNT) [27,28], and graphene oxide [29], among others. Experimental results [30,31,32,33,34,35] demonstrate that the incorporation of these friction-reducing materials significantly enhances the tribological properties of the coating. The underlying friction-reduction mechanism can be explained as follows: during the friction process between a self-lubricating coating and its counterpart, the self-lubricating particles on the coating surface are transferred. This transfer leads to the formation of a lubricating film between the sample and the friction counterpart, while some particles also adhere to the surface of the counterpart. Consequently, the subsequent frictional interaction occurs between the self-lubricating particles and the formed film, resulting in a reduction in the coefficient of friction (COF) [36,37].
At present, commonly utilized technical approaches for the fabrication of self-lubricating coatings include micro-arc oxidation [38,39], laser cladding [40,41,42,43], plasma spraying [44], and physical vapor deposition [45], among others. This study centers on self-lubricating coatings, offering a comprehensive review of recent advancements in several representative types, with particular emphasis on coating preparation techniques and property characterization. Furthermore, key challenges within the field are identified, and potential directions for future research and development are discussed.

2. Methods

The literature search and screening process of this review strictly adheres to the standardized framework for systematic reviews, ensuring the comprehensiveness, accuracy, and reliability of data acquisition. Meanwhile, the flowchart in PRISMA format is shown in Figure 1. The specific steps are as follows:
  • Literature Search Strategy: The search scope covers three core academic databases, namely ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search keywords are set as “light alloys”, “self-lubricating coatings”, “Micro-arc oxidation”, “Additive manufacturing”, and “tribological properties”. Relevant literature is obtained through combined keyword searches, with the publication year limited to the past decade, so as to incorporate the maximum number of published research findings in this field.
  • Literature Screening Process: A two-step screening method is adopted to determine the final included literature. The first step is preliminary screening, which involves rapid examination based on titles and abstracts: studies are excluded directly if their titles clearly involve non-light alloy materials, non-self-lubricating coating systems, or fail to focus on the optimization of tribological properties such as friction coefficient; studies are also preliminarily excluded if their abstracts indicate that the research type is non-experimental or non-review (e.g., theoretical hypotheses, conference abstracts), the research objects and methods deviate from the theme of “self-lubricating coatings on light alloys”, or key tribological performance data (e.g., friction coefficient, wear rate) are not mentioned; studies that meet the inclusion criteria based on their titles and abstracts proceed to the secondary screening stage.
  • The second step is secondary screening. After obtaining the full texts of the studies that passed the preliminary screening, the core contents such as research background, research objects, materials and methods, experimental data, and conclusions are studied one by one, and verified strictly in accordance with the inclusion criteria: Confirm whether the research objects are light alloys such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium and their alloys, and whether the research direction focuses on the preparation process and tribological properties of self-lubricating coatings; Check whether the research methods conform to academic standards and whether complete experimental processes (e.g., coating preparation parameters, tribological test schemes) and original data are provided; studies are excluded if there is incomplete data (e.g., lack of key experimental conditions or performance indicators), defects in research design (e.g., no control group set, insufficient repeated experiments), or inconsistency between the actual research content and the title/abstract (e.g., theme deviation, mismatch between data and conclusions); studies that fully meet the inclusion criteria are marked as “included literatures” and enter the subsequent data extraction stage.
  • Data Extraction and Verification: A structured framework is used to extract key information from the included studies. A data extraction table is constructed based on the logic of “preparation method-material composition-experimental conditions-performance indicators-research conclusions”, covering contents such as tribological test conditions (e.g., counter body material, load, sliding speed, environmental medium), tribological performance indicators (e.g., friction coefficient, specific wear rate), and core research conclusions. Meanwhile, double cross-validation is conducted on the extracted data: On the one hand, the consistency of data under different experimental conditions in the same literature is verified (e.g., whether the variation trends of friction coefficient and wear rate corresponding to different concentrations of self-lubricating particles conform to the laws of materials science); On the other hand, the performance data of the same or similar preparation methods and material systems in different studies are compared, and the potential causes of data differences (e.g., differences in experimental equipment accuracy, temperature and humidity of test environment, details of sample preparation process) are analyzed; If data extraction errors are found, the original studies are reconsulted for correction to ensure data accuracy.
  • Literature Evaluation and Classification: Based on the extracted standardized data, the included studies are classified and organized according to preparation methods, covering mainstream processes such as micro-arc oxidation, additive manufacturing, physical vapor deposition/chemical vapor deposition, and spraying. The research progress of various preparation technologies in the field of self-lubricating coatings on light alloys is summarized, respectively.

3. Preparation Methods of Self-Lubricating Coatings

3.1. Micro-Arc Oxidation

Micro-arc oxidation (MAO), also referred to as plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), is a surface modification technique utilized for metallic materials. Through precise control of the electrolyte composition and electrical parameters, a ceramic coating exhibiting high wear resistance, strength, and strong adhesion can be formed on the metal surface [46,47,48]. However, MAO coatings typically exhibit a loose and porous surface structure. This inherent characteristic may result in significant wear during friction, thereby shortening the coating’s service life and restricting the application of MAO technology in tribological contexts. Therefore, the incorporation of self-lubricating particles into the coating surface is of critical importance. By filling the surface pores with such particles, the coating can achieve enhanced densification, along with a reduced friction coefficient and wear rate. Consequently, a micro-arc oxidation composite coating with improved self-lubricating properties can be developed [49].
Currently, the mainstream technical approaches for preparing self-lubricating composite coatings are primarily classified into the one-step method and the two-step method. In the one-step method, during the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process, self-lubricating particles that are either suspended or generated in situ are deposited onto the coating surface through mechanisms such as electrophoresis and adsorption, thereby enabling the direct formation of a self-lubricating composite coating in a single step. In contrast, the two-step method involves first performing MAO treatment on the substrate to generate a base coating. Afterwards, self-lubricating particles are introduced into the surface pores of the coating using post-treatment techniques such as impregnation-sintering (IS), hydrothermal treatment (HT), vacuum impregnation (VI), electrophoretic deposition (EPD), cold spraying (CS), and magnetron sputtering (MS), thus completing the fabrication of the composite coating in two sequential steps [50].

3.1.1. One-Step Preparation

Table 1 summarizes the detailed information on the effect of adding different particles on the tribological properties of self-lubricating coatings prepared by the one-step method.
In the study on the surface modification of 6082-T6 aluminum alloy, Li’s research group employed MAO to fabricate two types of composite coatings by incorporating different reagents into the electrolyte. For the Al2O3/MoS2/CePO4 coating prepared by adding (CH3COO)3Ce·xH2O, when the additive concentration was set at 7.5 g/L, the average COF was reduced to 0.05, and the volumetric wear decreased by 11.61 × 10−3 mm3/N·m, indicating a significant enhancement in frictional performance [59]. In the case of the Al2O3/La2P4O13/MoS2 coating formed by adding C2H6LaO3 at a concentration of 5 g/L, the COF reached 0.42, representing a 41.66% reduction in average COF compared to the baseline. The volumetric wear rate was as low as 0.77 × 10−3 mm3/ N·m, demonstrating excellent self-lubricating properties [51].
Zhang et al. [52] incorporated MoS2 particles at varying concentrations into a silicate-based electrolyte. Using a one-step plasma electrolytic oxidation process, they successfully fabricated Al2O3/MoS2 self-lubricating composite coatings on the surface of 2A50 aluminum alloy. As illustrated in Figure 2, the composite coating achieved the lowest coefficient of friction (COF) of approximately 0.1 when the MoS2 concentration was maintained at 4 g/L. The minimum wear rate of the composite coating was measured to be 5.28 × 10−1 mm3/N·m.
Analysis of the wear mechanism indicates that in the absence of MoS2 particles, the dominant wear mechanisms are a combination of adhesive wear and abrasive wear. During the friction process, due to the detachment of hard oxidized particles, wear and friction occur between the friction pair and the dense inner layer of relatively high-hardness alumina. This results in plastic deformation and fatigue wear on the surface of the oxide layer. When MoS2 particles are introduced, they are dislodged under the influence of shear forces during friction. Subsequently, a lubricating film forms between the particles and the friction pair, leading to a transition in the wear mechanism to boundary lubrication wear. It is obvious that the thickness of the ceramic coatings increases from 20 μm of 0 g/L to 75 μm of 8 g/L. This change not only reduces the COF but also enhances its stability.
Owing to its excellent wear resistance and chemical stability, ZrO2 is widely utilized in the fabrication of micro-arc oxidation MAO coatings to enhance the hardness and wear resistance of the coating surfaces. Li et al. [60] employed the MAO technique to produce a ZrO2-singly doped coating on the surface of TC4 titanium alloy. Although this coating significantly enhanced the wear resistance of the TC4 titanium alloy surface, it simultaneously led to an increase in the surface roughness of the material, which in turn caused the COF to rise from 0.4 to 0.5, and the stability of the friction coefficient was also relatively poor. To address this limitation, He et al. [54] developed a ZrO2/MoS2 co-doped self-lubricating coating and proposed a synergistic lubrication mechanism. This mechanism offers two primary advantages. First, MoS2, as a solid lubricant, possesses a layered structure that facilitates internal sliding under shear stress, thereby effectively reducing friction and wear. Second, debris generated during the wear process, such as ZrO2 particles, can function as rolling media, transforming sliding friction into rolling friction, which further reduces the COF. As a result of this synergistic effect, the co-doped coating maintains superior lubrication performance over extended periods of friction. The Fretting friction coefficient decreased from 1.5 to 1.05.

3.1.2. Two-Step Preparation

Table 2 systematically summarizes the detailed information on the effect of selecting different post-treatment processes and adding different particles on the tribological properties of self-lubricating coatings prepared by the two-step method.
Zhang et al. [53] employed MAO technology and a two-phase surface treatment approach (Cold Spraying, CS; and Magnetron Sputtering, MS) to fabricate wear-resistant, friction-reducing, and self-lubricating composite coatings. Findings suggest that the composite coatings with MoS2 incorporated via the CS and MS post-treatment techniques exhibit superior self-lubricating properties. Specifically, the COF decreased to 0.245 and 0.099, respectively. The wear rates were 0.646 × 10−4 mm3/N·m and 0.201 × 10−4 mm3/N·m, respectively. Compared with the substrate, the wear rates decreased by 75.94% and 92%. This demonstrates that the synergistic interaction between the hard TiO2 and MoS2 enhances both the lubrication performance and wear resistance of titanium alloys.
Zhou et al. [62] adopted a synergistic approach that combines Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and hydrothermal treatment (HT) to fabricate a MAO/MoS2 self-lubricating composite coating on the surface of pure aluminum. The research group utilized an HT-500 friction and wear testing machine to conduct friction and wear tests on the specimens, and systematically investigated the relevant properties of the coating surface. The MAO coating features a porous structure, which endows it with the ability to accommodate MoS2 within its micro-pores. Consequently, MoS2 can exert a lubricating effect during subsequent friction processes. The test results indicate that the COF of the MAO-MoS2-HT self-lubricating composite coating is reduced to 0.23. Compared with the COF of 0.45 for the MAO coating alone, this represents a reduction of 48.9%, thus fully demonstrating the excellent lubricating performance of the composite coating.

3.2. Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM), alternatively referred to as 3D printing, is a fabrication process. It constructs three-dimensional components layer by layer by depositing materials through techniques including extrusion, sintering, and melting, relying on three-dimensional model data. AM technology has the advantages of complex structural design, rapid prototyping, the precise regulation of shapes/properties, etc. [68,69,70,71,72]. In the realm of additive manufacturing, there exist two principal techniques for the production of metallic materials. One approach involves the selective sintering of materials on a layer of diffused powder; the other entails the deposition of molten metal materials [73].Subsequently, this paper will elaborate on the key technologies for fabricating self-lubricating coatings within these two manufacturing processes.

3.2.1. Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology, a crucial segment within the domain of additive manufacturing, has found applications in the field of coating fabrication. This is attributed to its notable advantages, including a high degree of design freedom and superior processing precision [74]. The underlying principle of this technology involves using a laser beam to melt metallic powders layer by layer. Through a layer-by-layer deposition approach, it enables the net-shape formation of intricate components [75,76]. Among the common LPBF processes for metals are Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), and Direct Metal Laser Melting (DMLM) [69].
The research team led by Wang developed two self-lubricating composite coatings for titanium alloys. These coatings are based on the combination of a honeycomb structure and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The PTFE is bonded to the substrate through a hot-pressing sintering process. The core mechanism involves leveraging frictional forces to facilitate the release of PTFE and form a continuously self-repairing lubricating film. The specific properties are as follows:
First, a composite coating integrating a honeycomb structure and PTFE was directly prepared on the surface of a titanium alloy (TC4) substrate. This coating exhibited stable performance across multiple environments, including the atmosphere, deionized water, seawater, and acidic media. It can be seen from Figure 3a that under the four experimental conditions, the average COF of the composite coating is stable at around 0.15. According to the wear mass index presented in Figure 3b, the composite coating maintains a wear mass of zero even after exceeding 40,000 sliding cycles across four distinct test environments. To further validate the coating’s performance, the research team conducted tests on both the TC4 substrate and the composite coating in an atmospheric environment, measuring their weight loss and wear volume under varying numbers of sliding cycles. As illustrated in Figure 3c,d, the results reveal that the composite coating only experiences compaction induced by high frictional pressure at the initial stage of tribological testing—an effect that leads to minimal volume loss. Notably, throughout all subsequent test cycles, the coating’s mass remained unchanged with no signs of degradation. Collectively, these findings fully demonstrate that the composite coating exhibits exceptional tribological properties [77].
Second, the substrate preparation process was optimized. Initially, a Ti-TiN honeycomb coating was prepared on the surface of the titanium alloy in a nitrogen atmosphere via the LPBF technique. This significantly enhanced the strength and hardness of the coating. Subsequently, PTFE was introduced through hot-pressing sintering to form a composite coating. Figure 4 presents a schematic illustration of the preparation of the self-lubricating composite coating on the TC4 substrate. Even after 1 × 106 sliding cycles, this coating was able to maintain a low COF of 0.12 and demonstrated zero weight loss, thereby showcasing even more excellent anti-friction and wear-resistant properties [78].

3.2.2. Laser Cladding

Laser cladding (LC) technology pertains to the deposition of alloy or composite layers onto a surface under the irradiation of a high-intensity laser beam. Characterized by a high cooling rate, metallurgical bonding between the cladding layer and the substrate, minimal workpiece distortion, and high automation compatibility, LC finds extensive applications in fields such as aerospace [79,80,81,82] and manufacturing [83,84].
LC technology represents a promising approach for improving the tribological properties of alloys. By introducing solid lubricating phases into the cladding materials, ceramic composite coatings with self-lubricating capabilities can be developed, thereby exhibiting outstanding friction-reduction effects. Based on the different methods of preparing the coating materials, the LC process can be categorized into the synchronous powder-feeding method and the pre-placed melting method. In the synchronous powder-feeding method, the cladding materials are directly introduced into the region of the laser beam. The powder-feeding and cladding processes are concurrently carried out under a protective atmosphere. Figure 5a presents a schematic illustration of the synchronous powder-feeding method. As depicted in Figure 5b, in the pre-placed melting method, the cladding materials are first pre-placed on the surface of the workpiece and then melted under laser irradiation [85,86,87].
Ke et al. [88] incorporated the hard phase WC and the self-lubricating phase CaF2 into cobalt-based alloy powder. Subsequently, a self-lubricating LC layer was fabricated on the surface of TC21 titanium alloy via LC technology. Studies revealed that with an increase in laser power, the content of CaF2 in the composite coating increased, while the content of the hard phase decreased. Consequently, the COF of the coating dropped to 0.3. The lowest wear volume of the coating is 0.504 × 106 μm3. Likewise, Ding’s research group [89] also conducted research on the LCCo-based/WC/CaF2 self-lubricating coating on a TC21 substrate and explored the fretting wear behavior of the coating. The findings demonstrated that under variable-cycle fretting and variable-working-temperature conditions, the coating exhibited a relatively stable COF and a low wear rate (3.9 × 106 μm3).
Zhang’s research group [90] integrated LC technology with spraying technology. Initially, a highly wear-resistant Al/Ni/WC cladding layer was prepared on the surface of 7075 aluminum alloy. Subsequently, a highly wear-resistant and self-lubricating Al/Ni/WC@SMP-MoS2 composite coating was further developed via spraying technology. The research group carried out investigations on the tribological properties of coatings with varying WC powder contents. The results indicated that when the WC content was 12%, the minimum COF of the self-lubricating composite coating could reach 0.187, representing a 55% reduction compared to that of the base material.
The underlying cause of this phenomenon is that during the wear process, the SMP-MoS2 coating experiences fracture, and the released MoS2 infiltrates into the wear region. As a solid lubricant, MoS2 can exert an outstanding lubricating effect between the grinding balls and the composite coating. Simultaneously, under the action of the grinding balls, a portion of MoS2 fills the pores and cracks on the surface of the cladding layer. This results in a smoother wear surface, thereby effectively decreasing the COF of the material surface.
Torres et al. [91] utilized LC technology to incorporate the solid lubricant bismuth into a TC4 titanium alloy substrate, thereby fabricating self-lubricating coatings. During high-temperature friction tests at 600 °C, the COF of the composite coating remained relatively stable at approximately 0.5, whereas the COF of the substrate approached 1.1. The lowest wear rate of the coating is 8.0 × 10−5 mm3/N·m, exhibiting outstanding tribological properties.

3.3. Deposition Technology

3.3.1. Physical Vapor Deposition

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is an advanced technique for depositing thin films on the surface of substrates through physical processes under vacuum conditions. There are two commonly employed methods within this framework: magnetron sputtering and arc ion plating. Magnetron sputtering involves bombarding the target material with high-energy ions, which results in the sputtering and subsequent deposition of atoms. This method offers several notable advantages, such as a high deposition rate and precise control over the film composition. As a consequence, it finds extensive applications in various fields, including optical coatings [92,93], tool coatings [94,95,96,97], and semiconductor devices (Figure 6) [98,99,100]. In contrast, arc ion plating deposits thin films by generating high-energy plasma through arc discharge. It is characterized by a rapid deposition rate and strong adhesion. This method is especially well-suited for fabricating coatings with high hardness and excellent wear resistance. Such coatings are widely applied in various fields, including cutting tools [101,102], biomedical implants [103] and aerospace components [104,105,106].
E. Salerno et al. [107] deposited diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on additively manufactured AlSi10Mg alloys using gas deposition techniques. Among these, plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PA-CVD) was particularly employed. The DLC coatings were deposited via the PA-CVD approach. By integrating a buffer layer (Ni-P) and an intermediate layer (for example, Cr/WC-C or Cr/CrN/WC-C), the adhesion strength between the coating and the substrate was optimized. For all DLC-coated samples, the COF remained stable at around 0.20 under a loading of 1 N. When the load was increased to 10 N, the COF further decreased to approximately 0.16. These results demonstrate that the DLC coatings significantly enhanced the tribological properties of the AlSi10Mg alloys. In contrast, for the alloys without gas deposition coatings, the COF ranged from 0.69 to 0.92.
Hussein et al. [108] developed a novel titanium alloy, Ti20Nb13Zr (denoted as TNZ in this study), aiming to improve the wear resistance and durability of this nano-alloy. The research team employed the cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (CA-PVD) technique to coat the surface of the TNZ alloy with a TiN surface coating. The research team utilized a linear reciprocating tribometer to measure the friction coefficients of both the coated and uncoated samples. The COF curves over the displacement distance are presented in Figure 7. It can be seen that the bare TNZ substrate demonstrates a higher COF compared to the TiN-coated TNZ. In contrast, the TiN-coated TNZ exhibits a stable and low COF (approximately 0.4) across the entire testing distance. Under the steady-state condition of the test, the COF of the coated TNZ is nearly 30% lower than that of the bare TNZ substrate. And the specific wear rate of the bare TNZ is estimated to be 3.9 ± 0.8×10−5 mm3/N·m compared to that of the coated TNZ, which is 0.62 ± 0.07×10−5 mm3/N·m. This can be ascribed to the enhanced mechanical properties of the TNZ surface after the application of the TiN coating.
Li et al. [109] fabricated TiAlTaCN coatings via magnetron sputtering. They modulated the Ta content by altering the sputtering power of the Ti target, which remarkably optimized the tribological properties of the TiAlTaCN coatings. When the Ta content reached 5.6%, the Ta2O5 and TaC phases were generated. The oxidation of the TaN phase led to the formation of the protective Ta2O5 phase, which compensated for the inadequate oxidation resistance of Al2O3. Additionally, the TaC phase possesses oxidation resistance and can preserve its lubricating properties at elevated temperatures. In conjunction with the amorphous carbon phase, it accomplishes a self-lubricating effect. Consequently, the average friction coefficient was 0.37 at a high temperature of 600 °C and 0.23 at room temperature. This successfully achieved excellent self-lubricating performance under both low-and high-temperature conditions, and the coating demonstrated optimal tribological performance.
Dang et al. [110] prepared TiSiN/Ag multi-layer coatings on a Ti6Al4V alloy substrate through the arc ion plating technique and investigated the structure and tribological properties of the TiSiN/Ag multi-layer coatings. By introducing a self-lubricating and toughening Ag layer, it is possible to achieve a combination of high hardness and a low friction coefficient. In the TiSiN/Ag multi-layer coatings prepared by arc ion plating, the introduction of the Ag layer significantly reduced the friction coefficient. Although the COF increased slightly (from 0.27 to 0.29) as the thickness of the Ag layer decreased, it was still significantly lower than the COF of the pure TiSiN coating (0.39), showing good tribological performance.

3.3.2. Spraying

Spray coating technology can be mainly classified into cold spraying and thermal spraying based on the heating state of particles and the temperature level during the coating formation process. Thermal spraying (TS) utilizes heat sources such as plasma arc, electric arc, and flame to heat powders or wires to a molten or semi-molten state, which are then deposited onto the pre-treated substrate surface to form coatings with certain special functions. Thermal spraying can be primarily categorized into two types: The first is High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF), which employs the flame generated by gas combustion as the heat source. The second is plasma—based spraying, which utilizes an electric arc or a plasma arc as the heat source. The fundamental schematic illustration of the thermal spraying process is presented in Figure 8 [111,112,113].
Singhet al. [114] employed the plasma spraying process to spray graphite powder onto the surface of 2014 aluminum alloy in an inert argon atmosphere, successfully preparing graphene nanosheets (GNs) coatings. To explore the tribological properties of this self-lubricating coating, the research team made a point of comparing the performances under different plasma powers (16 kW and 20 kW; the corresponding coatings were denoted as G-16 kW and G-20 kW), taking the bare 2014 aluminum alloy as a reference. The relationship between the coefficient of friction (COF) and the load for the bare aluminum alloy, the G-16 kW coating, and the G-20 kW coating obtained from the experiments is presented in Figure 9. The results demonstrate that the COF of the bare aluminum alloy is significantly the highest. For the coating sprayed with a plasma power of 16 kW, the COF decreases to 0.17 under a load of 10 N, indicating an obvious anti-friction effect. The coating prepared with a plasma power of 20 kW exhibits even better performance, with the COF further dropping to 0.06 under the same load. Notably, when the load increases from 5 N to 10 N, the COF of both coatings shows a slight increase. This is because during the wear test, as the applied load increases from 5 N to 10 N, the elevated load intensifies the contact stress and frictional interactions between the coating and the counterpart. This heightened mechanical action promotes the generation of a greater volume of wear debris. Subsequently, the rolling, extrusion, or scratching of such debris at the contact interface disrupts the inherent flatness of the coating surface, ultimately resulting in a measurable increase in the coating’s surface roughness.
Nevertheless, even in this case, the values are still far lower than those of the bare aluminum alloy, suggesting that the coatings can maintain excellent anti-friction characteristics under different load conditions. In addition, under a load of 5 N, compared with the bare aluminum alloy, the wear rate of the G-16 kW coating was significantly reduced by 84%. When fabricating the GNs coating, increasing the plasma power to 20 kW further decreased the wear rate by 86% compared with the bare aluminum alloy under a 5 N load. The coating demonstrated excellent comprehensive properties.
Cold spraying (CS), also referred to as kinetic spraying (KS) or cold gas dynamic spraying (CGDS), involves the interaction between a supersonic gas-powder jet and a substrate at a temperature below the melting point of the powder. When impacting the substrate, powder particles undergo plastic deformation due to their high kinetic energy, thereby forming a coating. Different from thermal spraying, cold spraying enables deposition at low temperatures (below the melting point) and high velocities. It can produce coatings with minimal oxides and has a negligible heating impact on both the raw materials and the substrate [115,116,117,118].
Chen et al. [119] utilized the low-pressure cold spraying (LPCS) process to deposit copper-graphite composite coatings on AA7075-T651 aluminum alloy. They then conducted in-depth research on the properties of the coatings and the impact of graphite content on the COF. As shown in Figure 10a, with the increase in the content of Cu-coated graphite, the friction coefficient of the coating gradually decreases. The COF of the pure copper coating (CC0) is 0.52, while that of the aluminum alloy substrate is approximately 0.35. As the graphite content within the coating rises, the COF first decreases and then stabilizes. For the coating containing 20 wt% Cu-coated graphite (CC20), the COF drops to 0.15, representing a 57% reduction compared to the substrate. As shown in Figure 10b, with increasing graphite content, the wear rate of the coating exhibits a “first increase and then decrease” trend. Among all the tested coatings, the CC20 coating achieves the lowest wear rate, reaching 6.00 × 10−5 mm3/N·m. A comprehensive analysis reveals that once the graphite content increases to a specific threshold, the friction coefficient of the coating no longer varies with further changes in graphite content, whereas the wear rate continues to decrease. This enhancement in tribological performance can be ascribed to the formation of a solid-lubricating friction film containing graphite on the worn surface.

3.4. Other Methods

Apart from the several methods mentioned above to improve the tribological properties of the matrix, scholars in China and abroad are still constantly exploring new solutions. In the realm of self-lubricating coating fabrication, other approaches also encompass anodic oxidation and ultrasonic impact techniques (UIT) [4].
Zhu et al. [120] utilized the anodic oxidation method to deposit self-lubricating AAO-Cu/Ni-P composite coatings on the surface of 6061 aluminum alloy. They comprehensively analyzed the microstructure and properties of the coatings. The composite coatings demonstrated excellent self-lubricating properties under both low (3 N) and high (5 N) loads. Specifically, the coefficient of friction (COF) decreased by 32.3% and 34.6%, respectively.
Ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT), regarded as an advanced surface strengthening technology, operates on the core principle of leveraging ultrasonic vibrations to drive shot peening or a pinning head, enabling continuous and high-frequency impacts on the surface of workpieces. During this process, a gradient microstructure transitioning from fine grains to coarse grains is formed in the surface layer of the workpiece. This transformation significantly enhances the surface hardness and wear resistance of the material, thereby demonstrating remarkable advantages in prolonging the service life of workpieces and optimizing their mechanical properties. Given its features of low cost, simple operation, and high efficiency, UIT has also been employed in the preparation of surface coatings in recent years [121,122,123].
Chen et al. [124] employed ultrasonic impact technology (UIT) to prepare Ti-MoS2 self-lubricating coatings and gradient structures on the surface of AZ91D magnesium alloy. They conducted in-depth research on the tribological properties of these coatings under various load conditions. Under a relatively low load of 5 N, the average COF of the self-lubricating coating was merely 0.18, representing a reduction of 37.93% compared to the substrate. The self-lubricating coating exhibits a dual anti-wear mechanism. Specifically, the surface Ti-MoS2 coating effectively enhances lubricity. When the coating shows signs of failure, the gradient structure comes into play. It reduces the friction contact area and shear deformation, thereby further minimizing wear.

4. Future Perspectives and Outlook

Self-lubricating coatings, due to their outstanding performance characteristics, have been widely applied across various industries. A considerable body of research has been conducted in this field by scientists. The primary focus of these studies encompasses the design of material compositions, the optimization of fabrication processes, and the investigation of performance attributes, with the objective of reducing the friction coefficient and enhancing wear resistance. However, theoretical investigations into the self-lubricating mechanisms of these coatings remain insufficient and require further in-depth study. Future research on self-lubricating coatings should prioritize the following directions:
  • Traditional self-lubricating materials demonstrate limitations in high-temperature stability and oxidation resistance, making them inadequate for the demanding wear-resistant requirements in high-temperature environments such as aerospace and nuclear energy. Therefore, the development of novel high-temperature self-lubricating coatings will constitute a key research direction in the future.
  • Further investigation is necessary to understand the effects of different element dopants on coating properties. From a microscopic perspective, it is crucial to clarify the underlying mechanisms by which element doping influences coating performance. Concurrently, comprehensive studies on the behavior of coatings in real-world engineering applications should be conducted. This will provide a stronger theoretical and practical foundation for the engineering deployment of such coatings.
  • Nanomaterials exhibit significant potential for application in self-lubricating coatings across a broad temperature range. Due to their large specific surface area and high reactivity, nanomaterials can effectively reduce the friction coefficient during the friction process and promote the formation of a more stable lubricating film. This not only introduces a novel strategy for enhancing lubrication performance but also contributes to improved coating stability, thus meriting substantial academic attention and further investigation.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, R.Z.; methodology, R.L.; investigation, Z.Y. and J.C.; data curation, Z.Y. and J.C.; formal analysis, R.Z. and R.L.; writing—original draft preparation R.Z. and R.L.; writing—review and editing, H.Z. and X.C.; supervision, H.Z. and Z.N. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Universities of Liaoning Province (No. LJ232410143034 and No. LJ232410143005), Liaoning Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 2024-BS-152), Smart Eye Action Technology Transfer and Application Project (No. 62502010311) and College Student Innovation Project of Shenyang Aerospace University (No. Z202410143018 and No. D202410242228476890).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

References

  1. Zhu, S.; Cheng, J.; Qiao, Z.; Yang, J. High temperature solid-lubricating materials: A review. Tribol. Int. 2019, 133, 206–223. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Wang, J.; Zhang, M.; Dai, S.; Zhu, L. Research Progress in Electrospark Deposition Coatings on Titanium Alloy Surfaces: A Short Review. Coatings 2023, 13, 1473. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Sánchez, G.; Veleva, L.; Flores, E. Initial Stages of Al-AM60-Modified Surface of Magnesium Alloy Activity Exposed to Simulated Marine Environment. Coatings 2025, 15, 661. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Korzekwa, J.; Jarząbek, A.; Bara, M.; Niedźwiedź, M.; Cwynar, K.; Oleszak, D. Investigation of the Wear Resistance of Hard Anodic Al2O3/IF-WS2 Coatings Deposited on Aluminium Alloys. Materials 2025, 18, 3471. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Liu, Y.; Yu, S.; Shi, Q.; Ge, X.; Wang, W. Multilayer Coatings for Tribology: A Mini Review. Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 1388. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Ciulli, E. Vastness of Tribology Research Fields and Their Contribution to Sustainable Development. Lubricants 2024, 12, 33. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Kumar, R.; Antonov, M. Self-lubricating materials for extreme temperature tribo-applications. Mater. Today Proc. 2021, 44, 4583–4589. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Antony Jose, S.; Lapierre, Z.; Williams, T.; Hope, C.; Jardin, T.; Rodriguez, R.; Menezes, P.L. Wear- and Corrosion-Resistant Coatings for Extreme Environments: Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Coatings 2025, 15, 878. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Kasar, A.K.; Jose, S.A.; D’Souza, B.; Menezes, P.L. Fabrication and Tribological Performance of Self-Lubricating Porous Materials and Composites: A Review. Materials 2024, 17, 3448. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  10. Stachowiak, G.W.; Batchelor, A.W. 9—Solid Lubrication and Surface Treatments. In Engineering Tribology, 5th ed.; Stachowiak, G.W., Batchelor, A.W., Eds.; Butterworth-Heinemann: Oxford, UK, 2025; pp. 429–474. [Google Scholar]
  11. Ouyang, J.-H.; Li, Y.-F.; Zhang, Y.-Z.; Wang, Y.-M.; Wang, Y.-J. High-Temperature Solid Lubricants and Self-Lubricating Composites: A Critical Review. Lubricants 2022, 10, 177. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Hedayati, H.; Mofidi, A.; Al-Fadhli, A.; Aramesh, M. Solid Lubricants Used in Extreme Conditions Experienced in Machining: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Developments and Applications. Lubricants 2024, 12, 69. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Wang, X.; Hua, K.; Wang, Y.; Cao, Y.; Sun, J.; Ma, Q.; Feng, T.; Wang, H. Synergistically achieving low friction and high wear resistance over wide-temperature-range in a composite coating for ceramic matrix composites. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2025, 45, 117678. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Wang, C.; Meng, W.; Zheng, Y.; Meng, F. Experimental study on tribological performances of Graphite/MoS2 thermal sprayed composite coating on 9310 alloy steel. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 504, 132037. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Yang, X.; Du, Y.; Du, H.; Tang, Z. Tribocorrosion behavior of magnetron-sputtered MoS2-TiCr composite coatings. Ceram. Int. 2025, 51, 32211–32223. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Ma, H.; Wang, P.; Guo, Q.; He, J.; Luo, K.; Wu, N.; Luo, F. Effect of MoS2 addition on the wear mechanism of laser cladding AISI M2 coatings. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 2024, 33, 5565–5575. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Zhou, J.; Jin, S.; Wu, R.; Ma, X.; Pang, M.; Yu, Z.; Wang, G.; Zhang, J.; Krit, B.; Betsofen, S.; et al. Enhancing tribological performance of micro-arc oxidation coatings on Mg-Li alloy with h-BN incorporation. Ceram. Int. 2025, 51, 13760–13771. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Lakkannavar, V.; Yogesha, K.B.; Prasad, C.D.; Tiwari, A.; Vanitha, K.; Soni, P.K. Evaluation of mechanical, metallurgical, and hot corrosion-erosion behavior of plasma sprayed Ni22Cr10Al0.8Y/30%Cr3C2/10%h-BN/10%Mo composite coating. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 497, 131730. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Chen, Y.; Xu, Y.; Li, T.; Du, J.; Guo, L.; Hu, K. Fabrication and characterization of self-lubricating anti-wear 316L stainless steel/h-BN composite coatings on Q235 substrate via laser cladding. Opt. Laser Technol. 2025, 180, 111564. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Yuan, X.; Zhou, R.; Hu, M.; Wu, X.; Du, Y.; Ge, Y.; Yang, C.; Jiang, B.; Yang, R. Self-cleaning Al2O3-PTFE composite coatings on aluminum alloy with enhanced superhydrophobicity, corrosion and wear resistance. Ceram. Int. 2025, 51, 35483–35495. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Yu, S.; Zhu, C.; Wu, H.; Yao, L.; Mahapatra, M.; Xu, Y. Graphite-Enhanced PTFE/PEEK composite coating for improved friction and wear resistance. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2025, 700, 163214. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Fu, L.; Fu, B.; Zhou, M.; Du, S.; Zhang, Y.; Shan, Q.; Hua, L.; Ding, Z.; Zhang, G. Study on metal nanoparticles-PDA interface modification and its effect on the tribology behavior of PTFE self-lubricating coating materials. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2025, 693, 162839. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Chen, J.; Zhu, J.; Luo, Y.; Wu, H.; Guo, S.; Qiu, J. Achieving enhanced interfacial adhesion and highly oriented structure in PA6/Graphite composites for excellent tribological performance. Compos. Sci. Technol. 2022, 229, 109719. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Fan, S.; Chen, Y.; Wu, J.; Xiao, S.; Chen, G.; Chu, P.K. Structure, superlubricity, applications, and chemical vapor deposition methods of graphene solid lubricants. Tribol. Int. 2024, 198, 109896. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Zhao, J.; Gao, T.; Li, Y.; He, Y.; Shi, Y. Two-dimensional (2D) graphene nanosheets as advanced lubricant additives: A critical review and prospect. Mater. Today Commun. 2021, 29, 102755. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Verma, R.; Sharma, S.; Mukherjee, B.; Singh, P.; Islam, A.; Keshri, A.K. Microstructural, mechanical and marine water tribological properties of plasma-sprayed graphene nanoplatelets reinforced Al2O3-40 wt% TiO2 coating. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 2022, 42, 2892–2904. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Yin, H.; Yang, J.; Zhang, Y.; Crilly, L.; Jackson, R.L.; Lou, X. Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced 316L stainless steel composites made by laser powder bed fusion: Microstructure and wear response. Wear 2022, 496–497, 204281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Huang, S.J.; Abbas, A.; Ballóková, B. Effect of CNT on microstructure, dry sliding wear and compressive mechanical properties of AZ61 magnesium alloy. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 2019, 8, 4273–4286. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Hu, Q.; Li, X.; Zhao, G.; Ruan, Y.; Wang, G.; Ding, Q. Effects of Graphene Oxide on Tribological Properties of Micro-Arc Oxidation Coatings on Ti-6Al-4V. Coatings 2023, 13, 1967. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Singh, S.; Han, T.; Chen, X.; Zhang, C. Assessment of the tribological potential of self-lubricating alumina composites impregnated with Ti3C2Tx-MXene and MoS2. Wear 2025, 571, 205798. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Sun, Q.; Song, J.; Li, J.; Lin, P.; Dong, Y.; Su, Y.; Fan, H.; Hu, L.; Zhang, Y. Tribological behavior of h-BN/Al2O3 self-lubricating composites in extreme environments—Part I: Lubricating behavior and ultra-low friction coefficient mechanism in air environments from room temperature to 1200 °C. Tribol. Int. 2025, 201, 110251. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Chen, Y.; Lu, X.; Blawert, C.; Zheludkevich, M.L.; Zhang, T.; Wang, F. Formation of self-lubricating PEO coating via in-situ incorporation of PTFE particles. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2018, 337, 379–388. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Zhang, H.; Wu, H.; Wang, X.; Gao, A.; Gong, L.; Zeng, S.; Li, S.; Liu, M.; Chen, Y. Friction and wear behavior of 3D printed graphite/SiC composite self-lubricating materials with multi-materials and structures. Tribol. Int. 2025, 204, 110487. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Liu, Y.; Liu, X.; Zhang, X.; Chen, X.; Zhang, J.; Jing, L.; Wu, Y.; Yu, S. Tribological properties and self-lubrication mechanism of in-situ grown graphene reinforced nickel matrix composites in ambient air. Wear 2022, 496–497, 204308. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Wang, M.; Wang, A.; Zhao, W.; Meng, X.; Peng, X.; Wang, J. The ion diffusion-directed self-assembled graphene oxide coating and its synergistic lubrication mechanism against environmental moisture. Tribol. Int. 2024, 191, 109182. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Furlan, K.P.; de Mello, J.D.B.; Klein, A.N. Self-lubricating composites containing MoS2: A review. Tribol. Int. 2018, 120, 280–298. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Lu, Z.; Lin, Q.; Cao, Z.; Li, W.; Gong, J.; Wang, Y.; Hu, K.; Hu, X. MoS2 Nanomaterials as Lubricant Additives: A Review. Lubricants 2023, 11, 527. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Li, Q.; Shang, J.; Liu, T. Al2O3/LaPxOy/MoS2 composite coating with better wear and corrosion resistance in-situ prepared by micro-arc oxidation. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2025, 702, 163353. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Yang, Z.; Zhang, Z.; Chen, Y.; Zhao, Q.; Xu, Y.; Zhang, F.; Zhan, H.; Wang, S.; Li, H.; Hao, J.; et al. Controllable in situ fabrication of self-lubricating nanocomposite coating for light alloys. Scr. Mater. 2022, 211, 114493. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Yuan, J.; Yao, Y.; Zhuang, M.; Du, Y.; Wang, L.; Yu, Z. Effects of Cu and WS2 addition on microstructural evolution and tribological properties of self-lubricating anti-wear coatings prepared by laser cladding. Tribol. Int. 2021, 157, 106872. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Li, X.; Wang, K.; Jiang, B.; Chen, Y.; Zhang, Z.; Lu, K.; Liang, X. Enhancing corrosion and wear resistance of a 7075 aluminum alloy via depositing TC4 coating. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 2024, 32, 1736–1748. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Wang, X.; Luo, J.; Li, Y.; Mou, H.; Tong, Y.; Cai, Z.; Xing, Z.; Wei, S.; Yu, Y. Properties of laser cladding (NiCoCr)94Al3Ti3-cBN-hBN hard self-lubricating ceramic coating. Ceram. Int. 2024, 50, 13761–13769. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Xu, T.Z.; Zhang, S.; Wang, Z.Y.; Zhang, C.H.; Zhang, D.X.; Wang, M.; Wu, C.L. Wear behavior of graphite self-lubricating Babbitt alloy composite coating on 20 steel prepared by laser cladding. Eng. Fail. Anal. 2022, 141, 106698. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. Yang, Z.; Liu, D.; Li, M.; Zhou, K.; Liu, Y.; Wu, J.; Fan, K.; Zhang, X.; Abdel Wahab, M. High-temperature tribological properties of APS-sprayed CoCrNiW wear-resistant coating and NiCoCrAlYTa/Cu/Mo self-lubricating coating. Tribol. Int. 2025, 209, 110682. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Mukhtar, S.H.; Wani, M.F.; Sehgal, R.; Sharma, M.D. Nano-mechanical and nano-tribological characterisation of self-lubricating MoS2 nano-structured coating for space applications. Tribol. Int. 2023, 178, 108017. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Pan, H.; Lu, H.; Zhang, Z.; Fan, Z.; Liu, Z.; Zhi, S. Investigation on the growth mechanism and properties of AO-PEO composite coating on 304 stainless steel prepared by two-step process. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 509, 132230. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  47. Nisar, S.S.; Choe, H.-C. Exploring the surface characteristics and corrosion resistance of MoS2-Zn-doped TiO2 coatings on Ti-6Al-4V via plasma electrolytic oxidation technique for dental implant. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 498, 131795. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Gamba, M.; Cristoforetti, A.; Fedel, M.; Ceriani, F.; Ormellese, M.; Brenna, A. Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) coatings on aluminum alloy 2024: A review of mechanisms, processes, and corrosion resistance enhancement. Appl. Surf. Sci. Adv. 2025, 26, 100707. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  49. Zhang, H.; Pan, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Lian, G.; Cao, Q.; Que, L. A comparative study on microstructure and tribological characteristics of Mo2FeB2/WC self-lubricating composite coatings with addition of WS2, MoS2, and h-BN. Mater. Des. 2023, 225, 111581. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  50. Zhao, C.; Wang, X.; Yu, B.; Cai, M.; Yu, Q.; Zhou, F. Research Progress on the Wear and Corrosion Resistant Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation Composite Coatings on Magnesium and Its Alloys. Coatings 2023, 13, 1189. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Li, Q.; Shang, J.; Sun, S. Microstructure and self-lubricating property of a novel Al2O3/La2P4O13/MoS2 composite layer in-situ prepared by micro-arc oxidation. Wear 2025, 568–569, 205968. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  52. Zhang, M.; Ma, X.; Zhang, S.; Hou, L.; Kim, K.H. One-step fabrication of wear resistant and friction-reducing Al2O3/MoS2 nanocomposite coatings on 2A50 aluminum alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation with MoS2 nanoparticle additive. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 497, 131796. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  53. Zhang, S.; Zhang, M.; Jiang, H.; Chen, L.; Han, D.; Hu, X.; Qiu, L. Tribological behavior and wear mechanism of TiO2/MoS2 nanocomposite coatings fabricated on TC6 alloys by micro-arc oxidation and duplex surface technologies. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 510, 132227. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  54. He, J.; Xie, F.; Wu, X.; Li, L.; Luo, R.; Yang, H.; Wang, S. Preparation and friction wear performance of ZrO2/MoS2 PEO composite coating. Tribol. Int. 2025, 202, 110312. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  55. Ji, R.; Wang, S.; Zou, Y.; Chen, G.; Wang, Y.; Ye, Z.; Ouyang, J.; Jia, D.; Zhou, Y. Enhanced tribological performance of TiO2-hBN/CNT double-layer coating by CNT-assisted plasma electrolytic oxidation with nanoparticles addition. Tribol. Int. 2024, 198, 109885. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  56. Zhao, X.; Chen, Y.; Ji, R.; Xu, M.; Ye, Z.; Shao, W.; Wang, S.; Zou, Y.; Wang, Y.; Ouyang, J.; et al. TiO2-hBN nanocomposite coating with excellent wear and corrosion resistance on Ti6Al4V alloy prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2024, 494, 131471. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  57. Zhao, X.; Song, J.; Lin, J.; Wang, G.; Zhao, G. Enhancing Tribological Performance of Micro-Arc Oxidation Coatings on 6061 Aluminum Alloy with h-BN Incorporation. Coatings 2024, 14, 771. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  58. Qi, X.; Gao, H.; He, Y.; Su, X.; Jiang, B.; Song, R. A self-sealing and lubricating MAO/TiO2/PTFE composite coating fabricated by microarc oxidation on a 6063 aluminum alloy for wear and corrosion resistance. J. Alloys Compd. 2025, 1017, 179163. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. Li, Q.; Shang, J. Self-lubricating properties of Al2O3/MoS2/CePO4 composite layers in-situ prepared by micro arc oxidation on 6082-T6 alloy. Mater. Today Commun. 2024, 40, 110137. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  60. Li, H.; Sun, Y.; Zhang, J. Effect of ZrO2 particle on the performance of micro-arc oxidation coatings on Ti6Al4V. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2015, 342, 183–190. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  61. Li, W.; Yan, Z.; Shen, D.; Zhang, Z.; Yang, R. Microstructures and tribological properties of MoS2 overlayers on MAO Al alloy. Tribol. Int. 2023, 181, 108348. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  62. Zhou, R.; Huang, S.; Cao, J.; Hu, M.; Yuan, X.; Du, Y.; Hao, J.; Ge, Y.; Yang, C.; Jiang, B. Steam-hydrothermal growth of cauliflower-like MoS2 on microarc oxidized aluminum for enhancing lubrication. Surf. Interfaces 2025, 72, 107094. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  63. Liang, F.; Yang, E.; Jia, N.; Li, W.; Zhao, X.; Yang, R. Effect of NaAlO2 Co-Electrical Parameters on the Wear Resistance of MAO/MoS2 Self-Lubricating Composite Coatings. Materials 2025, 18, 1825. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  64. Liu, A.; Gao, S.; Du, S.; Lu, H.; Guo, J. Enhancing PEO coating on TC6 alloy through in-situ synthesis of MoSe2—Towards more efficient wear-reducing lubrication and wear resistance. Tribol. Int. 2024, 193, 109409. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  65. Chen, J.; Bai, Z.; Xu, J.; Li, W.; Jia, E.; Wang, J. Preparation and tribological properties of MAO-PVA/PTFE self-lubricating composite coating on aluminum alloy surface. J. Coat. Technol. Res. 2024, 21, 293–305. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  66. Lu, C.; Shi, P.; Yang, J.; Jia, J.; Xie, E.; Sun, Y. Effects of surface texturing on the tribological behaviors of PEO/PTFE coating on aluminum alloy for heavy-load and long-performance applications. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 2020, 9, 12149–12156. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  67. Ren, L.; Wang, T.; Chen, Z.; Li, Y.; Qian, L. Self-Lubricating PEO–PTFE Composite Coating on Titanium. Metals 2019, 9, 170. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  68. Jiang, X.; Lu, J.; Zhao, N.; Chen, Z.; Zhao, Z. A Review of Wear in Additive Manufacturing: Wear Mechanism, Materials, and Process. Lubricants 2024, 12, 321. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  69. Vafadar, A.; Guzzomi, F.; Rassau, A.; Hayward, K. Advances in Metal Additive Manufacturing: A Review of Common Processes, Industrial Applications, and Current Challenges. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 1213. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  70. Kumar, A.; Singh, G. Surface modification of Ti6Al4V alloy via advanced coatings: Mechanical, tribological, corrosion, wetting, and biocompatibility studies. J. Alloys Compd. 2024, 989, 174418. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  71. Miao, W.-J.; Wang, S.-Q.; Wang, Z.-H.; Wu, F.-B.; Zhang, Y.-Z.; Ouyang, J.-H.; Wang, Y.-M.; Zou, Y.-C. Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Structural Ceramics for Tribological Applications: Principles, Techniques, Microstructure and Properties. Lubricants 2025, 13, 112. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  72. Shah, R.; Pai, N.; Rosenkranz, A.; Shirvani, K.; Marian, M. Tribological Behavior of Additively Manufactured Metal Components. J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2022, 6, 138. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  73. Qin, H.; Xu, R.; Lan, P.; Wang, J.; Lu, W. Wear Performance of Metal Materials Fabricated by Powder Bed Fusion: A Literature Review. Metals 2020, 10, 304. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  74. Huang, J.; Zhang, W.; Fang, W.; Yi, Y. Tribology properties of additively manufactured Ti6Al4V alloy after heat treatment. Tribol. Int. 2023, 185, 108485. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  75. Bozkurt, Y.B. Effects of processing parameters on the tribocorrosion behaviour of AISI 316L fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). Mater. Today Commun. 2025, 47, 113131. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  76. Gómez-Ortega, A.; Pinilla-Bedoya, J.A.; Ortega-Portilla, C.; Félix-Martínez, C.; Mondragón-Rodríguez, G.C.; Espinosa-Arbeláez, D.G.; Pérez-Barrera, J.; González-Carmona, J.M.; Franco Urquiza, E.A. The Scratch Resistance of a Plasma-Assisted DUPLEX-Treated 17-4 Precipitation-Hardened Stainless Steel Additively Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion. Coatings 2024, 14, 605. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  77. Wang, B.; Lai, W.; Li, S.; Huang, S.; Zhao, X.; You, D.; Tong, X.; Li, W.; Wang, X. Self-lubricating coating design strategy for titanium alloy by additive manufacturing. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2022, 602, 154333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  78. Wang, B.; Zhao, X.; Li, S.; Huang, S.; Lai, W.; You, D.; Tu, X.; Li, W.; Wang, X. Self-lubricating coating with zero weight loss performance on additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2022, 447, 128847. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  79. Liu, F.-H.; Ji, F.-Q.; Pang, M. Study on the effect of TiC/B on the performance of laser cladding in-situ fabricating wear-resistant self-lubricating coatings. Mater. Today Commun. 2024, 41, 110675. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  80. Quazi, M.M.; Fazal, M.A.; Haseeb, A.S.M.A.; Yusof, F.; Masjuki, H.H.; Arslan, A. A Review to the Laser Cladding of Self-Lubricating Composite Coatings. Lasers Manuf. Mater. Process. 2016, 3, 67–99. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  81. Liu, K.; Yan, H.; Zhang, P.; Zhao, J.; Yu, Z.; Lu, Q. Wear Behaviors of TiN/WS2 + hBN/NiCrBSi Self-Lubricating Composite Coatings on TC4 Alloy by Laser Cladding. Coatings 2020, 10, 747. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  82. Liang, J.; Liu, Y.; Yang, S.; Yin, X.; Chen, S.; Liu, C. Microstructure and wear resistance of laser cladding Ti-Al-Ni-Si composite coatings. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2022, 445, 128727. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  83. Xu, Y.; Fu, S.; Lu, H.; Li, W. Process optimization, microstructure characterization, and tribological performance of Y2O3 modified Ti6Al4V-WC gradient coating produced by laser cladding. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2024, 478, 130496. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  84. Kermani, F.; Shoja Razavi, R.; Zangenemadar, K.; Borhani, M.; Gavahian, M. Optimization of single-pass geometric characteristics of IN718 by fiber laser via linear regression and response surface methodology. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 2023, 24, 274–289. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  85. Liu, Y.; Ding, Y.; Yang, L.; Sun, R.; Zhang, T.; Yang, X. Research and progress of laser cladding on engineering alloys: A review. J. Manuf. Process. 2021, 66, 341–363. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  86. Wen, M.; Jiang, B.; Duan, X.; Xiang, D. Research Progress on Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Strengthening Mechanisms of In Situ-Synthesized Ceramic-Reinforced Titanium Matrix Composite Coatings via Laser Cladding. Coatings 2025, 15, 815. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  87. Zhao, X.; Lyu, P.; Fang, S.; Li, S.; Tu, X.; Ren, P.; Liu, D.; Chen, L.; Xiao, L.; Liu, S. Microstructure and Wear Behavior of Ti-xFe-SiC In Situ Composite Ceramic Coatings on TC4 Substrate from Laser Cladding. Materials 2024, 17, 100. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  88. Hua, K.; Ding, H.; Sun, L.; Cao, Y.; Li, X.; Wu, H.; Wang, H. Enhancing high-temperature fretting wear resistance of TC21 titanium alloys by laser cladding self-lubricating composite coatings. J. Alloys Compd. 2024, 977, 173360. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  89. Ding, H.; Hua, K.; Sun, L.; Cao, Y.; Li, X.; Wu, H.; Zhou, Q.; Wang, H. Variable cycle fretting conditions meditated wear behavior and mechanism in a self-lubricating composite coating on TC21 titanium alloy substrate. Tribol. Int. 2024, 197, 109742. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  90. Zhang, G.; Ren, Z.; Hu, J.; Hou, Y.; Zheng, H. Laser cladding-spraying fabrication of Al/Ni/WC@SMP-MoS2 composite coating with enhanced anti-corrosion and self-lubricating property. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 503, 132017. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  91. Torres, H.; Pichelbauer, K.; Budnyk, S.; Schachinger, T.; Gachot, C.; Rodríguez Ripoll, M. A Ni-Bi self-lubricating Ti6Al4V alloy for high temperature sliding contacts. J. Alloys Compd. 2023, 944, 169216. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  92. Tan, X.; Li, J.; Meng, K.; Zhai, H. Microstructures and visible-infrared optical properties of diamond-like carbon films deposited by magnetron sputtering. Diam. Relat. Mater. 2023, 133, 109724. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  93. Min, J.; Yuan, W.; Chen, Y.; Lan, Y.; Yan, M.; Liu, H.; Cheng, X.; Dai, L. Preparation and Thermal Stability of AlMoON Based Solar Selective Absorption Coating. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mater. Sci. Ed. 2024, 39, 854–862. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  94. Li, G.; Lü, W.; Liu, S.; Li, C.; Zhou, Y.; Wang, Q. Multilayer-growth of TiAlN/WS self-lubricating composite coatings with high adhesion and their cutting performance on titanium alloy. Compos. Part B Eng. 2021, 211, 108620. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  95. Raghav, R.; Mulik, R.S. Comparative analysis over microstructural, mechanical properties and cutting performance of TiN, TiVN coatings deposited by magnetron sputtering on SiAlON ceramic tool insert. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2024, 480, 130570. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  96. Bobzin, K.; Kalscheuer, C.; Aghdam, P.H. Impact Resistance and Properties of (Cr,Al,Si)N Coatings Deposited by Gas Flow Sputtering with Pulsed DC Supply. Adv. Eng. Mater. 2022, 24, 2101021. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  97. He, Q.; DePaiva, J.M.; Kohlscheen, J.; Veldhuis, S.C. A study of mechanical and tribological properties as well as wear performance of a multifunctional bilayer AlTiN PVD coating during the ultra-high-speed turning of 304 austenitic stainless steel. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2021, 423, 127577. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  98. Zhang, J.; Hou, S.; Zhang, M.; Zhang, S.; Li, W. Corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of silica coatings on AZ31 magnesium alloy via magnetron sputtering. Mater. Today Commun. 2024, 41, 110890. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  99. Yu, S.; Sun, Y.; Tong, B.; Wang, T.; Wang, C.; Zhang, G. Fretting wear behavior of NbMoCrTixAly high entropy alloy films prepared by magnetron sputtering on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy. J. Alloys Compd. 2025, 1034, 181367. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  100. Kumar, A.; Kumar, M.; Tailor, S. Self-lubricating composite coatings: A review of deposition techniques and material advancement. Mater. Today Proc. 2023. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  101. Zou, S.; Luo, Z.; Li, Y.; Yuan, L.; Tang, Y.; Zhou, J.; Li, H. Effect of Arc Current on the Microstructure of AlTiN-Coated Tools and Milling of 304 Stainless Steel. Coatings 2024, 14, 704. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  102. Horikawa, N.; Guennec, B.; Kashi, T.; Miyajima, T.; Kinoshita, T.; Okamura, S.; Sakaida, A.; Kawano, Y.; Iwai, Y. Industrial Arc Ion Plating and Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering Coating Deposition: Static and Fatigue Performances of TiAlN-Coated SKH51 Tool Steel. J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 2022, 31, 8808–8822. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  103. Tsou, H.-K.; Chi, M.-H.; Hung, Y.-W.; Chung, C.-J.; He, J.-L. In Vivo Osseointegration Performance of Titanium Dioxide Coating Modified Polyetheretherketone Using Arc Ion Plating for Spinal Implant Application. BioMed Res. Int. 2015, 2015, 328943. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  104. Cui, M.; Ding, X.; Lian, Y.; Wu, Y.; Jiao, J.; Cheng, Y.; Yang, J.; Zhang, J.; Sun, Y. Effect of nitrogen flow rates on the structural and properties of TiVCrNiSi(N) high entropy coating deposited by arc ion plating. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 499, 131868. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  105. Li, J.; Liu, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Jia, B.; Xu, W.; Liu, X.; Ji, L.; Wang, A.; Sun, C.; Li, H. Effect of O2/Ar ratio on the microstructure and tribological properties of Y2O3 films by multi-arc ion plating. Ceram. Int. 2024, 50, 43032–43043. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  106. Kong, F.; Luan, J.; Xie, F.; Zhang, Z.; Evaristo, M.; Cavaleiro, A. The Green Lubricant Coatings Deposited by Physical Vapor Deposition for Demanding Tribological Applications: A Review. Coatings 2024, 14, 828. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  107. Salerno, E.; Casotti, D.; Gualtieri, E.; Ballestrazzi, A.; Gazzadi, G.C.; Bolelli, G.; Lusvarghi, L.; Rota, A.; Valeri, S.; Paolicelli, G. Friction and wear characteristics of DLC-terminated coatings deposited on AlSi10Mg alloy produced by Additive Manufacturing. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2024, 494, 131422. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  108. Hussein, M.A.; Adesina, A.Y.; Kumar, A.M.; Sorour, A.A.; Ankah, N.; Al-Aqeeli, N. Mechanical, in-vitro corrosion, and tribological characteristics of TiN coating produced by cathodic arc physical vapor deposition on Ti20Nb13Zr alloy for biomedical applications. Thin Solid Film. 2020, 709, 138183. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  109. Li, X.; Li, G.; Lü, W.; Liu, S.; Deng, J.; Wang, Q. High-temperature resistance and self-lubricating TiAlTaCN nanocomposite hard coating by synergistic interaction of TiAlN(C) and TaN(C) phases. Corros. Sci. 2024, 227, 111687. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  110. Dang, C.; Li, J.; Wang, Y.; Chen, J. Structure, mechanical and tribological properties of self-toughening TiSiN/Ag multilayer coatings on Ti6Al4V prepared by arc ion plating. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2016, 386, 224–233. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  111. Islam, K.S.; Chowdhury, N.; Islam, R.; Mitra, P.; Dutta, A.; Supal, A.R. Nanomaterial-based thermal spray coating technology: A review. Heliyon 2025, 11, e43389. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  112. Habib, K.A.; Cano, D.L.; Serrano-Mira, J.; Rayón, E.; Abellán-Nebot, J.V.; Dosta, S. Tribology behaviour of graphene-modified nanostructured Al2O3/3% TiO2 coatings under boundary and mixed lubrication conditions. Wear 2024, 548–549, 205381. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  113. Wrona, A.; Czechowska, K.; Bilewska, K.; Czerny, M.; Czech, A.; Lis, M.; Brudny, A.; Muzia, G.; Jaworska, L. Microstructure and Chemical Stability of Al2O3-ZrO2-ReB2 Composite Coatings Obtained by Air Plasma Spraying. Materials 2025, 18, 3363. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  114. Singh, S.; Rai, H.; Pandey, K.K.; Keshri, A.K.; Gosvami, N.N. Improving Tribological Properties of Al alloys via Robust One Step Graphene Coatings using Plasma Spraying. Tribol. Lett. 2023, 71, 42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  115. Shikalov, V.S.; Vidyuk, T.M.; Ukhina, A.V.; Batraev, I.S.; Filippov, A.A.; Usynin, S.Y. Microstructure and properties of self-lubricating Cu-NiP-C coatings produced by high-pressure cold spray. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 496, 131718. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  116. Li, W.; Cao, C.; Yin, S. Solid-state cold spraying of Ti and its alloys: A literature review. Prog. Mater. Sci. 2020, 110, 100633. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  117. Vaz, R.F.; Garfias, A.; Albaladejo, V.; Sanchez, J.; Cano, I.G. A Review of Advances in Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing. Coatings 2023, 13, 267. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  118. Wang, H.; Li, P.; Guo, W.; Ma, G.; Wang, H. Copper-Based Composite Coatings by Solid-State Cold Spray Deposition: A Review. Coatings 2023, 13, 479. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  119. Chen, W.; Yu, Y.; Ma, J.; Zhu, S.; Liu, W.; Yang, J. Low-Pressure Cold Spraying of Copper–Graphite Solid Lubricating Coatings on Aluminum Alloy 7075-T651. J. Therm. Spray Technol. 2019, 28, 1688–1698. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  120. Zhu, L.; Gao, W.; Wang, Y. A self-lubricating composite coating on 6061 aluminum alloy surface with an intermediate anodised layer. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2025, 513, 132483. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  121. Yuan, Y.; Li, R.; Bi, X.; Yan, M.; Cheng, J.; Gu, J. Review on numerical simulation of ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT): Present situation and prospect. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 2024, 30, 1319–1340. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  122. Gu, B.; Chu, J.; Wang, Y.; Xu, G.; Gao, L.; Yang, Y.; Hu, Y.; Zhang, H. Effects of ultrasonic impact treatment on the corrosion resistance of laser-cladded CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy coatings. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2024, 489, 131102. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  123. Hua, S.-W.; Pang, M.; Ji, F.-Q.; Chen, J.; Liu, G. Microstructure and tribological properties of Ti2AlC-B particle-enhanced self-lubricating coatings on Ti6Al4V by ultrasonic impact treatment and laser cladding. Mater. Today Commun. 2023, 34, 105165. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  124. Chen, X.; Xie, X.; Zou, T.; Zhang, Y.; Liang, Z. Simultaneous fabrication of Ti-MoS2 self-lubricating coatings and gradient structures to improve the wear resistance of AZ91D alloys. Surf. Coat. Technol. 2024, 477, 130306. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Coatings 15 01104 g001
Figure 1. Flowchart of the literature retrieval and screening process.
Figure 1. Flowchart of the literature retrieval and screening process.
Coatings 15 01104 g001
Coatings 15 01104 g002
Figure 2. Friction coefficient curves of the MAO coatings under different MoS2 concentrations [52].
Figure 2. Friction coefficient curves of the MAO coatings under different MoS2 concentrations [52].
Coatings 15 01104 g002
Coatings 15 01104 g003
Figure 3. (a) Average COF and (b) weight loss under different test environments; (c) wear volume and (d) weight loss of both samples for different sliding cycles under the atmosphere [77].
Figure 3. (a) Average COF and (b) weight loss under different test environments; (c) wear volume and (d) weight loss of both samples for different sliding cycles under the atmosphere [77].
Coatings 15 01104 g003
Coatings 15 01104 g004
Figure 4. Schematic diagram of the preparation of composite coating on the TC4 substrate [78].
Figure 4. Schematic diagram of the preparation of composite coating on the TC4 substrate [78].
Coatings 15 01104 g004
Coatings 15 01104 g005
Figure 5. Schematic diagrams of the LC processing mode: (a) coaxial powder feeding method; (b) pre-placed powder method [85].
Figure 5. Schematic diagrams of the LC processing mode: (a) coaxial powder feeding method; (b) pre-placed powder method [85].
Coatings 15 01104 g005
Coatings 15 01104 g006
Figure 6. Schematics of physical vapor deposition system [100].
Figure 6. Schematics of physical vapor deposition system [100].
Coatings 15 01104 g006
Coatings 15 01104 g007
Figure 7. COF as a function of sliding distance traveled for the bare and coated samples [108].
Figure 7. COF as a function of sliding distance traveled for the bare and coated samples [108].
Coatings 15 01104 g007
Coatings 15 01104 g008
Figure 8. Principles of the thermal spray technique [111].
Figure 8. Principles of the thermal spray technique [111].
Coatings 15 01104 g008
Coatings 15 01104 g009
Figure 9. COF of the plasma sprayed GNs coatings at three different loads from 5 to 10 N [114].
Figure 9. COF of the plasma sprayed GNs coatings at three different loads from 5 to 10 N [114].
Coatings 15 01104 g009
Coatings 15 01104 g010
Figure 10. Friction coefficient (a) and wear rate (b) of substrate and coatings [119].
Figure 10. Friction coefficient (a) and wear rate (b) of substrate and coatings [119].
Coatings 15 01104 g010
Table 1. Detailed information regarding the particles incorporated in the coating via a one-step method and their self-lubricating effects.
Table 1. Detailed information regarding the particles incorporated in the coating via a one-step method and their self-lubricating effects.
SubstrateParticleFriction ParametersCOFWear RateRef.
TypeConcentrationLoadEnvironmentTimeSpeedMatrixComposite
Coating		MatrixMAO
Coating		Composite
Coating
6082MoS2-3 NRT30 min120 mm/min0.510.42--0.77 × 10−3 mm3/N·m[51]
2A504 g/L300 gRT60 min200 r/min-0.1--5.28 × 10−1 mm3/N·m[52]
TC6-3 NRT30 min120 mm/min-0.0792.69 × 10−4 mm3/N·m0.13 × 10−4 mm3/N·m0.210 × 10−4 mm3/N·m[53]
TC218 g/L40 N--- ----[54]
TC4h-BN20 g/L2 N--5 rpm/s-0.11---[55]
10 g/L2 NRT-300 r/min0.540.28- 4.3 × 10−4 mm3/N·m[56]
60612 g/L300 gRT30 min400 r/min-0.1-4.0 × 10−5 mm3/N·m2.6 × 10−6 mm3/N·m[57]
6063PTFE-4.9 N-30 min336 r/min -0.28---[58]
6082CePO4-5 NRT10 min0.22 m/s-0.05-13.75 × 10−3 mm3/N·m2.41 × 10−3 mm3/N·m[59]
Note: RT—room temperature; MAO—micro-arc oxidation; COF—coefficient of friction; LC—laser cladding; PVD—physical vapor deposition; AM—additive manufacturing; LC—laser cladding; LPBF—laser powder bed fusion.
Table 2. Details of the post-treatment process and their self-lubricating effect.
Table 2. Details of the post-treatment process and their self-lubricating effect.
Post-TreatmentSubstrateTypeFriction ParametersCOFWear RateRef.
LoadEnvironmentTimeSpeedMAO
Coating		Composite
Coating		MAO
Coating		Composite
Coating
CSTC6MoS23 NRT30 min120 mm/min0.5230.2450.13 × 10−4 mm3/N·m0.646 × 10−4 mm3/N·m[53]
MSTC63 NRT30 min120 mm/min0.5230.0990.13 × 10−4 mm3/N·m0.201 × 10−4 mm3/N·m[53]
HT60634 NRT60 min224 rpm/min-0.222-2.94 × 10−7 mm3/N·m[61]
Pure Al4 N15 °C60 min200 r/min0.450.23--[62]
TC420 N-90 min224 rpm/min0.40.13--[63]
TC6MoSe23 NRT15 min1 cm/s-0.170.9 × 10−3 mm3/N·m0.6 × 10−3 mm3/N·m[64]
Impregnation6061PTFE5 NRT20 min2 cm/s0.550.139--[65]
VI202410 N---0.680.11--[66]
ISPure Ti4 NRT--0.650.107.02 × 10−5 mm3/N·m1.34 × 10−5 mm3/N·m[67]
Note: IS—impregnation sintering; HT—hydrothermal treatment; VI—vacuum impregnation; CS—cold spraying; MS—magnetron sputtering; COF—coefficient of friction.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, R.; Li, R.; Yang, Z.; Cheng, J.; Zhang, H.; Cui, X.; Nong, Z. Research Progress on the Preparation and Tribological Properties of Self-Lubricating Coatings Fabricated on Light Alloys. Coatings 2025, 15, 1104. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091104

AMA Style

Zhang R, Li R, Yang Z, Cheng J, Zhang H, Cui X, Nong Z. Research Progress on the Preparation and Tribological Properties of Self-Lubricating Coatings Fabricated on Light Alloys. Coatings. 2025; 15(9):1104. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091104

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Ruimeng, Rui Li, Zhen Yang, Jiayi Cheng, Hongliang Zhang, Xue Cui, and Zhisheng Nong. 2025. "Research Progress on the Preparation and Tribological Properties of Self-Lubricating Coatings Fabricated on Light Alloys" Coatings 15, no. 9: 1104. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091104

APA Style

Zhang, R., Li, R., Yang, Z., Cheng, J., Zhang, H., Cui, X., & Nong, Z. (2025). Research Progress on the Preparation and Tribological Properties of Self-Lubricating Coatings Fabricated on Light Alloys. Coatings, 15(9), 1104. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15091104

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop