Tribology: The Tool to Design Materials for Energy-Efficient and Durable Products and Process

This chapter describes a summary of the main tribological achievements carried out in TEKNIKER during the last 37 years. It covers the description of commercial and newly developed tribological test benches and case studies for a wide variety of applications. The examples refer to different tribological characterization tools for material selection (e.g., composition, surface treatments, lubricants). It makes emphasis in the failure mechanisms (pitting, scuffing, abrasion, adhesion, thermal fatigue, tribocorrosion, etc.) and friction simulation of a wide range of materials (seals, textiles, steels, cast iron, light alloys, ceramic, composites), tribological systems (mechanical components, biomaterials, tribolubrication), and environments (vacuum, ultrahigh vacuum, low or high temperature, and corrosive). A huge range of new testing equipment and protocols have been developed to simulate the mentioned failure mechanisms and working environments. This knowledge will make possible, in the future, to simulate at laboratory a still wider list of tribological systems and develop new standards. Tribology will help to implement materials solutions into energy and resource efficient products and process, to reduce carbon footprint

The safe-and-sustainable-by-design concept:innovating towards a more sustainable future

Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) is a new concept proposed by the European Commission to support the urgent need to transition towards a more preventive and proactive approach in chemical and material innovation which supports a more sustainable future and in meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. SSbD provides orientation and guidance by taking a system approach. SSbD building blocks were developed: regenerative corporate and societal strategic needs (considering service and function), risk and sustainability governance, competencies, and data management. This viewpoint brings these building blocks together in a holistic way to create an innovation landscape ensuring safer and more sustainable chemicals, materials, production processes and products in science, technology, and industry; starting from ‘design’ and that is fit for supporting a sustainable future

The safe-and-sustainable-by-design concept:innovating towards a more sustainable future

Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) is a new concept proposed by the European Commission to support the urgent need to transition towards a more preventive and proactive approach in chemical and material innovation which supports a more sustainable future and in meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. SSbD provides orientation and guidance by taking a system approach. SSbD building blocks were developed: regenerative corporate and societal strategic needs (considering service and function), risk and sustainability governance, competencies, and data management. This viewpoint brings these building blocks together in a holistic way to create an innovation landscape ensuring safer and more sustainable chemicals, materials, production processes and products in science, technology, and industry; starting from ‘design’ and that is fit for supporting a sustainable future

Frictional behaviour of imidazolium sulfate ionic liquid additives under mixed slide-to-roll conditions

Current work presents the investigation of frictional behaviour of ionic liquid lubricant mixtures under mixed slide to roll ratio. On the contrary to the previous study, which focuses on determination of the most suitable ionic liquid additive for identical ionic liquid weight concentration in lubricant mixture, this work had two scopes. The first one was to determine the optimal chemical composition of ionic liquid additive by investigating the lubricant mixtures with identical molar ratio, and the second one, to optimise additive concentration for certain ionic liquid structure. The changes were observed by two means. Namely, in frictional behaviour, ionic liquid concentration plays significant role. On the contrary, for the mixtures with identical molar concentration, the chemical structures with longer alkyl substituent do not always exhibit improvement. Experiments also revealed correlation between ionic liquid structures, concentration and wear. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis of worn surfaces confirmed the above statements

Influences of trans-fatty acids on the tribological properties of plant oils

A great challenge on tribology is the improvement of vegetable oils lubrication properties, which are environmentally friendly products, to replace long established lubricants based on mineral oils (petroleum). It is well known that some traditional additives used with mineral oils, such as organic sulfides, present antagonistic effects on vegetal oils on anti-wear boundary lubrication property. This work used natural rapeseed oil and sunflower oil to study the influence of the organic sulfides and the trans-fatty acids on the natural triglycerides. The tests used were a reciprocating motion test (SRV) and a unidirectional motion test (four ball test). The results show the same trend: the presence of trans isomers in the lubricant in combination with certain additives may significantly influence their boundary lubrication properties. As it is expected, octadecanethiol additive decrease the anti-wear performance although in combination with trans acid at low temperature keep the neat conditions and at high temperature the anti-wear properties are enhanced.Preprin

Influences of trans-fatty acids on the tribological properties of plant oils

A great challenge on tribology is the improvement of vegetable oils lubrication properties, which are environmentally friendly products, to replace long established lubricants based on mineral oils (petroleum). It is well known that some traditional additives used with mineral oils, such as organic sulfides, present antagonistic effects on vegetal oils on anti-wear boundary lubrication property. This work used natural rapeseed oil and sunflower oil to study the influence of the organic sulfides and the trans-fatty acids on the natural triglycerides. The tests used were a reciprocating motion test (SRV) and a unidirectional motion test (four ball test). The results show the same trend: the presence of trans isomers in the lubricant in combination with certain additives may significantly influence their boundary lubrication properties. As it is expected, octadecanethiol additive decrease the anti-wear performance although in combination with trans acid at low temperature keep the neat conditions and at high temperature the anti-wear properties are enhanced