Applications of surface analysis and surface theory in tribology

Abstract

AbstractTribology—the study of adhesion, friction and wear of materials—is a complex field that requires a knowledge of solid‐state physics, surface physics, chemistry, material science and mechanical engineering. It has been dominated, however, by the more practical need to make equipment work. With the advent of surface analysis and advances in surface and solid‐state theory, a new dimension has been added to the analysis of interactions at tribological interfaces. In this paper, the applications of surface analysis to tribological studies and their limitations will be presented. Examples from research at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Lewis Research Center will be given. Emphasis will be on fundamental studies involving the effects of monolayer coverage and thick films on friction and wear. A summary of the current status of theoretical calculations of defect energetics will be presented. In addition, some new theoretical techniques that enable simplified, quantitative calculations of adhesion, fracture and friction are discussed.