SULUTRIB

Motivation

In all mechanical systems such as gears, bearings or guides, a certain amount of the energy is lost due to frictional heat. Together with wear, which may lead to system failure, the negative consequences of frictional losses are of great economic and environmental significance. Conventional tribological systems have been optimized over many decades and have little potential for improvement. In contrast, considerable progress is anticipated from the application of superlubricity. However, the desired industrial implementation has not yet been achieved, since experimental research is currently still very much focused on basic principles, application-relevant aspects such as the lubrication condition are only being addressed in rudimentary form, and, in addition, the limits of conventional tribological methods and measurement accuracy are quickly being reached.

Goals

The aim of the project is to set up or upgrade a tribometer within the research landscape of the BMWK energy research network in the research field of tribology, which is suitable for the application-oriented investigation of friction and wear in the state of superlubricity and implements new, promising scientific approaches as a methodological extension. After successful development and validation, this device will then be available as a tool for industrial research for the development of concrete supra-lubricating material systems.