Tribology
Tribology is the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion and the related matters including friction, wear and lubrication.
Broad Impacts
The consequences of tribological phenomena are costly. Jost and his team found that the British industry and government could save considerable money by making proper use of existing (1966) tribological technology. Recent estimates suggest that the results of improper use of modern lubrication techniques cost the U.S. about ~2-6% of the GNP (~$270-800 billion yearly).
Energy has become a huge global concern. It is estimated that over one third the worldwide energy production is consumed by excessive friction and wear in existing products and manufacturing technologies. Small improvements in our ability to manage friction and prevent wear compound to produce cost and energy savings throughout the life cycles of products: energy extraction, energy conversion, parts manufacturing, product operation and recycling all consume excess energy and cost. The US secretary of energy recognizes the important implications of energy efficiency improvements. At a 2008 energy conference at the University of Delaware, he identified improved energy efficiency as his 'first tenet' and offered that
the greatest source of new energy is the energy we waste today.
For thousands of years, tribology has been a barrier to technological innovation. Many emerging technologies are mobile, and thus require tribological components. New technologies place novel demands on the sliding components and many require equally innovative lubricants and lubrication strategies to become practical. A few examples lie in the broad areas of sliding electrical contacts, MEMS devices, space exploration and communications, military operations, medical implants and sustainable energy strategies. Although rarely recognized, tribological research and advancement are strongly tied to the global economy, energy consumption and technological innovation.
