Industrial Tribology

Tribology is an interdisciplinary subject dealing with surface in relative motion. It embodies friction, wear and lubrication. Knowledge of Tribology is therefore inevitable for Mechanical Engineers. This is equally applicable to the design, development, fabrication or production and operation of machinery. Friction, which is one of the principle constituent of Tribology is known to man since time immemorial. The making of fire by friction between two flint stones nearly 2,00,000 years ago and the invention of wheel 4000 years ago, to reduce friction during locomotion are classic examples of the importance of friction in the evolution of our civilization. However, the theories of friction to estimate friction based on the surface geometry are relatively new. Parts in relative motion suffer wear and the best design that do not fail or become obsolete will ultimately wear out, be it a plough or foot ware or an automobile. Hence, it is not enough to design just based on failure analysis but an awareness of wear mechanisms to estimate the life components is necessary. Lubrication is essential to reduce friction and wear by separating parts in relative motion.