Standard Tribology Laboratory

Room E06, Bd. Muncii 103-105, UTCN. Houses four classical tribometers for macro-scale friction and wear testing under various contact configurations and loading conditions.

Oils, additives, nanoparticles.

Friction and wear behavior of fiber-reinforced composite materials.

Tribology of materials for space applications in harsh environments (MEMS).

Tribological investigations at micro and nano scale.

Tribology of dental and biomedical materials.

Characterization of thin films under tribological conditions.

Triboinformatics and AI solutions for wear prediction.

Tribology in marine and corrosive environments (OTC).

Standard equipment for tribological characterization of liquid lubricants and greases, per ASTM D2596 / D2266 / D4172 / D2783 and DIN 51350. A rotating steel ball runs against three stationary balls immersed in the test lubricant, under controlled loads. Determines extreme-pressure (EP) load-carrying capacity, weld load, Wear Scar Diameter (WSD) and coefficient of friction. Enables comparison of base lubricants, engine, hydraulic and transmission oils, and evaluation of anti-wear/EP additive efficiency, including nanoparticle additives (TiO₂, CuSn).

Rotating disc / 3 stationary pins configuration for systematic friction and wear characterization of material pairs under controlled load, speed and temperature. Determines steady-state coefficient of friction, specific wear rate, and dominant wear mechanisms (adhesive, abrasive, contact fatigue). Contact surfaces are analyzed via optical microscopy and profilometry. Applicable to metals, polymers, ceramics, fiber-reinforced composites and thin films, per ASTM G99 / DIN 50324.

Specialized equipment for analyzing stick-slip — the unstable friction oscillations at the transition between static and dynamic friction in low-speed sliding systems. Measures static/kinetic friction force, oscillation amplitude and frequency, identifies the critical velocity threshold, and analyzes the effect of lubricant, roughness and material on motion stability. Relevant for linear guides, mechanical seals, MEMS systems and any tribological pair at risk of self-excited vibration.

Standardized equipment for determining lubricant load-carrying capacity (Timken OK Load), per ASTM D-2509 (greases) and ASTM D-2782 (oils). A high-speed rotating steel bearing race is pressed against a stationary steel block, flooded with the test lubricant; load increases progressively until the first scuffing marks appear. The OK Load — the maximum load without damage — confirms the presence and effectiveness of EP additives (≥35 lbf / ≈155 N indicates active EP additives). Used as a rapid screening test in R&D and lubricant quality assurance.

Demonstrated, via the Four-Ball tribometer, the effect of TiO₂ and CuSn nanoparticles in reducing wear and friction coefficient in industrial lubricants.

Numerical and experimental models for estimating component lifetime under mixed and boundary lubrication.

Best Application Paper Award, MARSS 2023, Abu Dhabi, UAE — international recognition for the laboratory's research.