6. Conclusions

In this article, we set out to characterize the way in which rubbing contacts operate with respect to wear by addressing the following points:

• definition of wear and discussion of its magnitude and relationship to friction ;

• description of various methods for measuring the wear of friction parts on mechanisms and manufacturing tools;

• characterization of lubrication regimes and presentation of ways to limit wear using lubricant properties;

• characterization of the deformation mode of elastoplastic materials at the microscopic level of contact zones under dry conditions or lubricated by thin films (limits) ;

• discussion of ways of maintaining micro-contacts in a range of elastic deformation, which guarantees long service life...