A Strategy for Improving the High-Temperature Tribological Properties of Polyimide Membranes via Microcapsules

In this work, a novel and high-temperature resistant PI composite membrane with double-core-shell microcapsules was successfully developed. The PI composite membranes exhibited excellent thermal stability and tribological mechanical properties. Specifically, the tensile stress of the 5 wt % PFPE@HMCMs-PDA/PI (5-PHPP) membrane reached 81.6 MPa, twice as high as that of the pure PI membrane. Tribological tests demonstrated that the COF of the 5-PHPP membrane at 200 °C decreased by 74.2% and the wear rate could be reduced by 97.0%. SEM analysis revealed that the excellent high-temperature tribological properties of the PI composite membranes were attributed to the lubricant released on the worn surface. This work provides new insights into fabricating self-lubricating polymer composites that demonstrate potential applications in tribology.