The Ni3Al matrix self-lubricating composite was fabricated by powder metallurgy technique. The tribological behavior of the composite sliding against commercial Si3N4, SiC and Al2O3 ceramic balls was investigated from 20 to 1000 °C. It was found that the composite demonstrated excellent lubricating properties with different friction pairs at a wide temperature range, which can be attributed to the synergetic effect of Ag, fluorides, and molybdates formed by oxidations. The Ni3Al matrix self-lubricating composite/Si3N4 couple possessed the stable friction coefficient and wear rate.

•The SiC matrix solid-lubricating composites are prepared.•Synergism of Mo and CaF2 contributed to the lubrication of SiC at high temperature.•SiC matrix composites provided favorable lubricating properties at 800 and 1000 °C.•50 vol%SiC-20 vol%Mo-30 vol%CaF2 showed the best lubricating properties at 1000 °C.SiC matrix high temperature solid-lubricating composites with addition of different contents of CaF2 and Mo were fabricated by hot pressed sintering, and their tribological behavior was investigated over a broad temperature range between room temperature to 1000 °C. It was found SiC matrix composite with addition of 20 vol% Mo and 30 vol% CaF2 to exhibit excellent solid lubricity and wear resistance. Especially at 1000 °C, it has the lowest friction coefficient of 0.17 and a favorable wear rate of 4.08×10−6 mm3/N m. The low friction and wear mechanisms were discussed in detail.

•ZrO2 (Y2O3)–10Ag–10CaF2–10Mo show good wear rates from 20 °C to 1000 °C.•The effect of Mo on the friction and wear behavior of ZrO2 (Y2O3) was studied.•CaMoO4 provide lubrication at high-temperatures.In this paper, a series of ZrO2 matrix high-temperature self-lubricating composites were prepared by hot-press technique. The effect of Mo and Ag on the friction and wear behavior of the ZrO2(Y2O3)–Ag–CaF2–Mo composites in a wide temperature range was investigated. The XRD results showed that CaMoO4 formed on the worn surface above 400 °C. The excellent lubrication performance of CaMoO4 endowed the low coefficient of friction of the ZrO2(Y2O3)–Ag–CaF2–Mo composites at high temperatures. The ZrO2(Y2O3)–10Ag–10CaF2–10Mo composites showed favorable wear resistance at all the tested temperatures which was attributed to the combined action of hardness and phase transformation.

•Ni3Al alloy has the better anti-wear properties than Ti–6Al–4V alloy at dry friction and sea water conditions.•Ni3Al alloy in sea water circumstance has lower friction coefficient compared to that at dry friction condition.•Sea water has lubricating, cooling, and corrosive effects on the friction pairs.The tribological behavior of a Ni3Al alloy prepared by hot-pressed sintering was investigated at dry friction and sea water condition against AISI 52100 steel ball in ambient environment and at varying loads. The tribological results suggested that the Ni3Al alloy has the better wear resistance properties compared to Ti–6Al–4V alloy at dry friction and sea water conditions, and the Ni3Al alloy possesses the excellent wear resistance properties under sea water environment. Sea water plays a significant role in the improvement of tribological properties of the Ni3Al alloy, which has lubricating, cooling, and corrosive effects on the friction pairs.

Ni3Al–Ag–BaF2/CaF2–W composites were fabricated by the powder metallurgy route, and their tribological properties over a wide temperature range, starting from room temperature up to 800 °C, were investigated. The Ni3Al matrix composite with 15 wt% BaF2/CaF2 exhibited a favorable friction coefficient (range 0.3–0.4) and wear rate (0.2–6.2 × 10−4mm3 N−1 m−1). The formation of BaWO4 and CaWO4 with lubricity on the worn surface due to a tribo-chemical reaction at high temperatures provided excellent lubricating properties. The low friction coefficient over a broad temperature range could be attributed to the synergistic effect of Ag, BaF2/CaF2, BaWO4, and CaWO4.