Structure

Head of laboratory: dr. Tadas Matijošius

Mission of Tribology Laboratory
Research of lubrication, wear, friction and other interactions between moving surfaces, including studies of degradation and electrochemical processes. Training of tribology researchers.

Tribology Research Directions

• Electrochemical and corrosion processes in oil films.
Processes in fuel, oil and other fluid films (5-500µm) have been analyzed. Engine oil and hydraulic fluid tests have been miniaturized to evaluate degradation and corrosion of commercial lubricants.

• Tribology of anodized alumina, electrochemically treated surfaces and other coatings.
Narrow nanopores, brittleness and roughness lead to rapid wear, so anodized Al parts are rarely used in moving parts. Tribology Laboratory developed AW-HARD technology based on hard anodizing and biobased fillers to dramatically improve wear resistance.

• Degradation of oils, biofuels, rubber, plastics and similar functional materials.
Tribological, oxidative, hydrolytic and other types of degradation is studied. Reclaim Rubber Powder (RRP) technology was developed to degrade waste rubber tribochemically between moving surfaces without hazardous chemicals or solvents. RRP can be used for new rubber articles, insulating panels, mats and elsewhere.

• Lubrication technology, including coatings, biobased oils and additives.
Lubricant basestocks, plasticizers, biofuels and other fluids have been synthesized and tested.  Nanoparticles have been used as lubricant additives. Sputtered and deposited coatings have been generated and their tribological properties tested.