Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.04.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Materials science and technology |
|
| 2.11.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Mechanical design |
|
| 1.04.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T210 |
Technological sciences |
Mechanical engineering, hydraulics, vacuum technology, vibration and acoustic engineering |
Friction, wear, lubrication, lubricants, bio-lubricants, contact problems, advanced materials, hard coatings, composites, bio-ceramics, technical diagnostics, surface engineering, surface layers, tribochemistry, nanotribology, nanotechnology, design, product development, maintenance, ecology
Researchers (8)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
14556 |
PhD Mitjan Kalin |
Mechanical design |
Researcher |
2004 - 2008 |
1,110 |
| 2. |
21668 |
Mihael Kermc |
Mechanical design |
Junior researcher |
2004 - 2007 |
14 |
| 3. |
18005 |
Franci Kopač |
|
Technical associate |
2004 - 2008 |
55 |
| 4. |
05573 |
PhD Jožef Pezdirnik |
Mechanical design |
Researcher |
2004 - 2008 |
182 |
| 5. |
15269 |
PhD Bojan Podgornik |
Materials science and technology |
Researcher |
2004 - 2008 |
1,130 |
| 6. |
21632 |
Jožica Sterle |
|
Technical associate |
2004 - 2008 |
0 |
| 7. |
15697 |
PhD Marjan Trstenjak |
Mechanical design |
Researcher |
2004 |
7 |
| 8. |
00812 |
PhD Jožef Vižintin |
Mechanical design |
Head |
2004 - 2008 |
1,144 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Tribology is an interdisciplinary science dealing with friction, wear and lubrication of component surfaces in the tribological contact, which is in the relative motion. Contact surfaces in the tribological contact may have the different form, topography and material characteristics. The space between contact surfaces is filled up with lubricant, air or other material. Therefore, beside the contact surfaces, the intermediate material with its physical-chemical characteristics may also be considered as a constructive component. The study of problems in the tribology system requires the knowledge of physics, mechanic, materials, chemistry and design. Progressive wear of contact surfaces leads to the reduction of durability and operation reliability. Moreover, the higher are also material losses, maintenance costs and energy consumption. At the worst, the unexpected or permanently fracture of the machine components may occurred, resulted in the production downtime and related costs. Machines and equipment are generally lubricated with mineral based lubricants derived from crude oil, which have limited lifetime and are dangerous to the environment. Unsuitable operation and storage of lubricants, together with the sudden leakage of the lubricants due to the unexpected accidents, directly or indirectly represent a threat for the lives of people, animals and plants.
Reducing friction and wear and ecological prevention is based on the research activities in all segments of the tribological system. Research of materials will be oriented to the advanced materials as are the global trends. Contemporary research areas include the research of: composite materials for high temperatures, wear resistance of engineering ceramics and bio-compatible ceramics, surface characterization, hard coatings, especially nano-composite and nano-layer coatings, inert coatings and hard carbon based bio-compatible coatings. The lubrication of contact surfaces will be more ecological with the minor impact on the environment and at the same time adapted to the advanced materials recently developed (ceramics, carbon based hard coatings, etc.). An example is the use of water in the case of ceramics lubrication and the development of the novel biodegradable lubricants and esters, adapted to the advanced non-ferrous materials and surfaces.
To understand the wear and lubrication principles by the application of the advanced materials it is necessary to expand the research of mechanical and tribological material properties from macro and micro-scale level to the level of the surface layers on nano-size level, means to the nanotribology. The surface quality improve is based on the application of surfactants, coatings and layers, which will enable the use of these materials in real applications. The results, as the world trends, indicate so termed "intelligent" surfaces, which will be capable to adapt for the different operating conditions and environment.
Significance for science
Requirements for reduced energy and material resources consumption brought up a new research field called Nano-technology. In the development of this field knowledge about friction on the atomic level is essential. However, for application of results it is more important what happens on nano-micro level in the tribological contact. This field is called Nano-tribology. In our research program investigation will be focused on nano-structured materials, nano lubrication films and dry friction on nano level. Based on experts’ opinion, these fields are essential for the development of many mechanical components and system, at the same time being still largely unexplored. We expect for our work on these fields to contribute to the knowledge and research development. The second field proposed is the investigation of coatings for machine elements with complex geometry. Here we have two points of interest. The first concern is how to manufacture a reliable coating that can carry high loads and be self-regulating (intelligent coatings). The second concern is chemically inertness of these coatings. For normal operation of machine elements lubricants are more or less essential. Therefore, our task is to develop reliable coatings with high load-carrying capacity on one side, and lubricating fluids which are environmentally adapted and capable of forming nano-micro lubricating films in the contact. In this field, we are one of the leading centres in the world and we plan to remain in this position. Good example is coating conference organized in Spain next year, with our group being responsible for the technical program of the symposium. The third field is surface texturing, with the main focus on lubricant quantity reduction. In this field we are one of the leading research institutes beside Israel. We are planning to introduce a model for fluid flow and hydrodynamic lubrication of textured surfaces, and to optimize texturing parameters for increased reliability of systems operating under different contact conditions and with reduced lubrication. We are expecting positive scientific and applied results, especially due to planned cooperation with different laboratories at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The fourth field is diagnostics, mainly the condition monitoring of tribological contacts in different mechanical systems. For the development of this field we have all the necessary resources, theoretical and experimental. We are expecting that in the forthcoming program period, we will obtain scientific and applicative results required by the industry. During these activities we will develop the model for condition based maintenance, which will be introduced in the Slovene industry. We believe that above mentioned fields are of big interest for progress of science and application of this knowledge in industry.
Significance for the country
Slovenia is highly dependent on import of energy and raw materials for material production. Therefore, it is necessary to focus toward the smallest possible consumption of energy and raw materials per product unit. According to some analysts, the direct expense of friction and wear in industrially developed countries is as high as 10% GDP. It is also estimated that it could be possible to achieve savings of up to 1% GDP, only with the reduction of friction obtained by the use of appropriate lubricants. A less known fact is that it is also possible to reduce fuel consumption with the change of a lubricant. Thus it could be possible to reduce the fuel consumption in a modern vehicle for up to 5%, simply by the change from multigrade engine oil to lower-viscosity oil with friction-reduction additive. Slovenia has approximately 1 million passenger cars, from which each makes up to 20000 km per year. A research by European Union showed that it would be possible to reduce the average CO2 emission of passenger cars from today’s 200 g/km to less than 140 g/km till the end of year 2008. This means that with such an arrangement, Slovenia’s annual CO2 emission would be lower for approximately 1 million tons. Emissions could be reduced with the use of biodegradable fuels and lubricants. Slovenia belongs to developed countries and therefore holds necessary knowledge and resources to achieve the above mentioned savings as well as for its own production of bio-fuels and bio-lubricants. On the other hand, experts are estimating that 70 to 80% of hydraulic fluids leave the systems through leakage. This can cause big ecological pollution of the environment and drinking water. Therefore, the use of bio-lubricants and bio-fuels in cars, industrial machines and especially in hydraulic systems is essential for Slovenia. In practice, knowledge of tribology is used to improve different properties of moving elements, with intention to reduce friction and wear losses and consequentially prolong durability and reliability of machines and transmission systems. It is well known that in Germany energy losses and damage of contact surfaces, related to wear and friction, are responsible for costs equal to about 35 billion €. Investigations show that in developed countries as well as in Slovenia, improved knowledge about friction and wear would contribute to saving of up to 1% GDP. Friction and wear can be reduced also with the use of nano-structured materials, coated surfaces, micro-nano lubricating films and textured surfaces. All of the mentioned possibilities could represent a new challenge for Slovenia from scientific as well as from production point of view. These topics are the main subject of Program group TRIBOLOGY.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
