Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2021
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.11.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Mechanical design |
|
| 2.04.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Materials science and technology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T210 |
Technological sciences |
Mechanical engineering, hydraulics, vacuum technology, vibration and acoustic engineering |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.03 |
Engineering and Technology |
Mechanical engineering |
Tribology, friction, wear, lubrication, nanotribology, nanotechnology, surface engineering, coating, DLC, polymer, nanoparticle, contact, surface, interface, boundary film, wetting, lubricant, oil, additive, green lubrication, power hydraulics, technical diagnostics, prognostics, machine design
Researchers (32)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
In the past period Programme group Tribology went through its most successful period with notable record of scientific, societal and professional achievements, obtaining numerous projects, several respected awards, fortify the reputation through many invited talks worldwide and establish a new and unique joint European master study in Tribology of surface and interfaces. The group changed and enlarged substantially, and a new head took its lead in 2011, prof. Kalin, who is one of the most renowned younger-generation tribologist world-wide; internationally and nationally awarded by prestigious awards and Editor of SCI journal Lubrication Science (Wiley). The group continues to work in the same activity areas, but clearly setting some new research directions, heading toward more profound understanding of the interface phenomena and so increasing the ability to tailor tribological contacts for required performance in industrial applications. A team of young and interdisciplinary post-doc researchers, several PhD students and two professors is enthusiastically taking the research activities at high pace. Linking nanoscale understanding and targeting the industrial problems became the paramount goal and guidance of the current Program group team.
The group is dedicated to investigate and develop energy-efficient, durable and at the same time “green” operation of mechanical systems that face ever-more demanding working conditions. It acts in four closely-related areas, which range from the atomistic and molecular to the macro-scale engineering at the level of machinery components and further to monitor and diagnose operation of industrial systems. In this way it takes advantage of the topmost scientific detail of nano-scale, with realistic engineering components design and performance, and their long-term reliability, condition and life-time. These four key areas that are all embraced by tribological theory and methodology are: 1) Nanotribology, 2) Contact and surface engineering, 3) Power hydraulic design and 4) Technical diagnostics.
Within these areas we will continue with research where we are among the leading groups and even setting some new research areas globally, like solid-liquid interface design, as well as green and boundary lubrication of DLC. We tent to further increase our activities in nanotechnology and interface science. In addition, we will continue/start some new research topics, like developing models for asperity deformation and real contact area, advancing polymer and electrical contacts tribology, upgrading understanding of extreme temperature interface phenomena and water lubrication in hydraulics, as well as setting high-tech sensoring with new directions in diagnostics and prognostics of mechanical systems through novel entropy approach. Finally, collaboration with industry, professional volunteering activities, as well as internationally-oriented education, all bringing important societal effects, will remain our priority.
Significance for science
The presented plan of the Programme Group is prepared in a way that it aims to study and solve several very contemporary and important scientific problems and to satisfy several key industrial needs in our field. At the same time, the plan is in accordance with the strictest modern environmental regulations. To achieve the proposed goals, several innovative methods are planned, which will be of a great importance to the development of science and technology due to new results and new available experimental techniques, which are crucially needed today. Many of the proposed solutions in the plan are completely new and represent a breakthrough in several scientific fields.
In the field of nanotribology (and general tribology) our main focus will be to increase the efficiency of the sliding systems by the research and development of green, environmentally-friendly lubrication technologies, which is one of the main trends in modern technology.
For the first time, a dedicated tribotester will be implemented into the neutron beam facility for the sub-nanoscale resolution adsorption investigation under simultaneous tribological conditions. This way, physical properties (i.e. density, thickness) of boundary films will be revealed in-situ as a function of engineering key-relevant lubrication parameters, such as temperature and additive concentration. In this manner, fully organic harmless additives and various DLC coatings will be investigated, which will for the first time indisputably validate the existence of novel innovative green lubrication technology and directly compare it to the state-of-the art additives. Using established and upgraded surface analytical techniques complete lubrication mechanisms for selected green organic additives on various DLC coatings will be obtained. This is another world’s first study of its kind, which will represent a step-change in lubrication technology, if successful. It will also broaden the use of neutron reflectometry to new areas, i.e. surface engineering and tribology.
By studying surface-liquid interactions we have already explained some controversies of the past and for the first time revealed indisputable correlation between surface energy, wetting, slip and friction. By upgrading our existing experimental equipment and extending current research in this field we intend to further improve our existing correlation model to universal surface-liquid and adsorption interaction model, which will cover a whole range of contact conditions (pressure, speed, temperature, material properties etc.) and enable to design an optimal surface-liquid interface for required contact condition in certain application. This will be a first such model and will represent a breakthrough in the field of surface sciences and tribology.
Our aims of further improving of the most prosperous nanoparticles as lubricating agents either in oils or as a part of nano-composite polymer matrices are a part of the goals towards the efficient green lubrication technologies. The research in this field importantly represents the bridging between the nanotechnology/nanotribology and macroscopic sciences in mechanical engineering.
In the field of contact and surface engineering the developed polymer gear testing machine will be the first of its kind allowing “in-situ” measurements of fatigue strength, deformations, wear and efficiency of polymer gears. Besides that, a special apparatus for “in-situ” analyses of topographical and material effects on real contact areas of polymers (and later metals) will be a great innovation opening the insights into the real contact conditions at the nano- and micro-scale.
Current development of the device for testing of the tribological and electrical properties of the graphite contacts under the simultaneous effect of sliding and electrical current - combined with detailed and comprehensive macro and nanoscale surface analyses - will provide crucial information on interfacial phenome
Significance for the country
Plan of the Programme group Tribology is consistent with national and international strategies, legislations and international protocols in terms of energy and raw material saving, introducing clean and renewable energy, diminish waste materials and production of greenhouse emissions and hazardous materials. Moreover, we target in reducing energy due to friction losses, reducing wear, increase durability and so increasing the efficiency of the industrial assets. Therefore, the content itself is inherently very important for the economy and society.
30% of all fuel consumption in passenger cars is to overcome friction, which was 208.000.000.000 litres worldwide in 2009, i.e. 250.000.000.000 Euro [Tribol.Int.47(2012)]. When other transport and many industrial sectors are added to this figure, it clearly represents huge economic impact, even if the friction is reduced for just a few percent.
It was reported that in 2010 only the UK market for surface engineering processes was worth about 21.300.000.000 Euro, where 12.400.000.000 Euro was directly connected with protection against wear [A. Matthews, The UK Surface Engineering Industry to 2010, NASURF]. Surface and contact engineering therefore represent an immense economic impact and call for continuous improvements and development.
A recent strategic document “Slovenian Industrial Policy (2013)” clearly outlined surface technologies as one of just few key priority areas, which shows the importance of the main research fields of the Programme group.
The plan of the Programme group is in line with Kyoto protocol and EC emission legislation and affects all industrial sectors. It is more than obvious that pollution with greenhouse emissions and hazardous materials has tremendous effect on global warming, climate changes, health and thus all societal systems. It represents one of the paramount world-wide needs for major global changes and massively affects the society, health, education, technology and energy resources.
Friction reduction significantly improves the fuel-efficiency, and contributes to oil-reserve conservation. Moreover, with this, it also reduces CO2 emissions. Therefore, both reducing friction, and introducing cleaner, green lubrication technology is essential to achieve these goals and can tremendously affect the economy and society.
By research and development of advanced low-friction and wear-protective surfaces, the usage of typically used steel and cast iron, which are metals with limited resources, will be reduced and therefore a substantial raw material conservation contribution will be made. Also, green lubrication technology will be improved tremendously.
Research and development (at various scales) of the new tribological systems to achieve effective lubrication will enable significant reduction in friction and wear, which leads to reduction of energy losses and pollution, savings in raw materials, increased reliability, durability and reduced maintenance.
Moreover, preventing from deterioration of mechanical components due to abandoning current successful, but harmful additives, due to restrictive emissions regulation has an immense effect on society and economy. It is hard to imagine that current achievements in down-sizing, machinery power, fuel economy etc., could indeed be lost, without the appropriate replacements.
The Programme group closely collaborate with numerous academic and industrial (national and international) partners, which is thus in agreement with the national priorities and Lisbon strategy.
The group is actively involved in the pedagogical work on the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Expansion of the interdisciplinary knowledge at the top-most level positively influences the transfer of that knowledge to students, and subsequently to general public and industry.
All new systems currently under development and research will bring significant innovations in various fields having immense potential markets and applications. This wil
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
interim report
