University of Delaware - College of Engineering
MATERIALS TRIBOLOGY LABORATORY
Hierarchical composites provide ultra-low wear without lubrication
Friction force microscopy reveals new insights about the atomic origins of friction
In-situ microtribometry provides new insights into the initiation, progression, and treatment of osteoarthritis
In-situ tribometry provides direct observational access to the buried tribological interface
Co-sputtering offers unique control over the nanocomposite structure of ultra-low wear materials
Instrumenting UD's G90 helps elucidate the effects of non-uniform wind fields on premature drivetrain failure
Probing the sliding interface directly provides novel insights into lubrication and wear mechanisms of cartilage
Solid lubricant coatings keep satellites moving in extreme extraterrestrial environments
Interferometry through transparent bodies probes effects of roughness and real contact areas on friction
Trace loadings of 40nm nanoparticles reduce wear of Teflon by 99.99%

Healthcare Research

Many healthcare issues involve tribology. These include chronic dry eye or inflammation due to friction between contact lenses and epithelial cells on the eyelid, temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) disorders which impede chewing and talking, tooth wear from brushing and chewing, impact injuries of the knee and hip which lead to cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis, frictional burns and blisters on the skin, and frictional interactions between stents or catheters and tissues.