Design of a hydrogen-bonded eutectic polyurea grease complexed with Ti3C2Tx: Tribological and electrical erosion resistance

The development of conductive greases with friction-reducing, anti-wear, and anti-electrical corrosion performance provides an effective solution to mitigate bearing electrical erosion in electrical vehicles. In this study, a titanium carbide MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x )-based eutectic hydrogen-bonded thickener is successfully synthesized through micro-interface reactions by exploiting the different reaction rates of –NH 3 , H 2 O, and –CNO functional groups. Tribological experiments indicate that the hydrogen bonding within the Ti 3 C 2 T x -based eutectic thickener facilitates the co-release of the thickener and Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets at tribological interfaces, thereby enhancing the lubricating film thickness. Moreover, the M-0.5 system (Ti 3 C 2 T x concentration of 0.5 wt%) achieves a 91 % reduction in wear volume, significantly decreases contact resistance, and effectively mitigates electrical corrosion. This study presents a feasible strategy for the design of two-dimensional oil-soluble complexes for the protection of grease lubricated bearings.