Self-lubricating duplex composites comprising a top layer of polymer-based composites, i.e. bismaleimide (BMI) filled with a wide range of graphite (Gr) content (0–55 wt.%), and a bottom layer of infiltrated metal networks were manufactured by a hot compression-molded method. Melting points and polymerization temperatures of as-received BMI powder and BMI + Gr blends were investigated to determine infiltration process. The polymerization peaks move to higher temperatures with increase in graphite content. For cured polymer composites, the hardness measured by nanoindentation keeps increasing with graphite content without degradation up to 55 wt.%. Tribological performance of the top and bottom composites was examined individually, with focus placed on the development and stability of lubricating transfer film and tribofilm. For the top polymer composites, 25 wt.% Gr (or equivalently 17 vol.%) is sufficient to form lubricating transfer film and reduces the friction to the lowest ~ 0.15. For the bottom infiltrated metal networks, the BMI + 55% Gr-infiltrated network is adequate to develop fully covered transfer films and achieve low friction throughout the test. Those results shed lights on design and manufacturing of self-lubricating polymer matrix composites on metallic components that undergo severe running conditions.

自润滑双工复合材料，包括聚合物基复合材料的顶层，即填充了广泛的石墨（Gr）含量（0-55 wt。％）的双马来酰亚胺（BMI），以及渗透金属网络的底层通过热压成型法。研究了原样的BMI粉末和BMI + Gr混合物的熔点和聚合温度，以确定渗透过程。随着石墨含量的增加，聚合峰移至更高的温度。对于固化的聚合物复合材料，通过纳米压痕测得的硬度随着石墨含量的增加而保持增加，而不会降解至55 wt。％。分别检查了顶部和底部复合材料的摩擦学性能，重点是润滑转移膜和摩擦膜的发展和稳定性。对于顶部聚合物复合材料，25％（重量）的Gr（或等价的17％（体积））足以形成润滑转移膜，并将摩擦降低到最低的〜0.15。对于底部渗透金属网络，BMI + 55％Gr渗透网络足以形成完全覆盖的转移膜并在整个测试过程中实现低摩擦。这些结果为在经受恶劣运行条件的金属部件上设计和制造自润滑聚合物基复合材料提供了启示。