Recent progress in high-temperature greases: Constitutive relationships, mechanisms, and applications

Abstract

In modern high-tech industries, such as aerospace, nuclear energy, and electric power, there is increasing demand for materials with high-temperature adaptability and superior lubrication properties. Grease is an essential mechanical component that is widely used to reduce mechanical friction, wear, and vibration. This paper comprehensively reviews recent progress in high-temperature grease, including design, performance indices, lubrication characteristics, development, and applications. This paper starts by outlining novel insights into the relationship between the composition and physicochemical properties of high-temperature greases, as well as other factors, emphasizing typical strategies for matrix reinforcement and high-temperature performance enhancement. The gravity analysis focuses on the intrinsic properties of high-temperature grease and the influence of working conditions on its tribological properties, leading to a detailed discussion of the lubrication mechanism. The innovative fusion of high-temperature grease with new materials such as nanomaterials and ionic liquids (ILs) and interdisciplinary research involving modern emerging fields such as artificial intelligence have led to further progress in the development of high-temperature grease, which has a wide range of applications in aerospace components, automotive parts, and turbines. Finally, this review concludes briefly with prospects for the challenges and future directions in high-temperature grease.