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The Evaluation of Materials for Tribological Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

Ward O. Winer*
Affiliation:
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405
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Abstract

The goal of tribo-material development is to produce materials which can beused to construct tribo-elements for use in mechanical systems and which will perform in a predictable manner. Tribo-element performance is critical in determining mechanical system reliability. In addition, tribo-elements are among the most severely taxed mechanical system elements, and require a high level of geometric accuracy and stability. Because of the wide variety of operating variables and environments, there are no universal test procedures to determine the efficacy of materials for tribological applications. Tribo-material evaluation is complex, important, and not well understood.

This paper discusses the primary environmental operating variables for different tribo-elements, the rationale for their importance and will survey how they are normally included in tribo-material evaluation. The paper will also distinguish between tribomaterial evaluation for known well defined applications as compared with the evaluation of potential tribo-materials for which the relevant application is unknown. The objective of the material scientist, in either situation, is to select and use the evaluation program involving minimum time and cost consistent with generating results leading to design decisions with confidence.

The role and nature of the many available “bench tests” will be discussed as will be the role and sophistication of thorough tribo-system simulation.

As in many areas of materials development, it is appropriate for tribo-material development to paraphrase the well known adage; “the proof of the tribo-material is in the using.”

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1989

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