Due to its high viscosity index,low volatility,good biodegradability and lubricity,vegetable oil has the potential of being an environment-friendly bio-lubricant.However,its poor oxidation stability and low temperature fluidity limit its application in the field of friction.The principle,catalytic reagents,modification effects,advantages and disadvantages of different modification methods to improve the oxidative stability of vegetable oil were reviewed,and the future research directions of vegetable oil modification methods were prospected.It was pointed out that the vegetable oil with high content of unsaturated carbon double bond could be preferentially modified by epoxidation or selective hydrogenation,and then by other modification methods,which could not only improve the oxidation stability of vegetable oil,but also ensure its low temperature fluidity and biodegradability.