Friction, wear and lubrication

The latest publications in this offer are:

• May 12, 2026

  R1394 Reviewed

  Atomic force microscopy (AFM)

  Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was introduced in 1986 by G. Binnig, C.F. Quate and C. Gerber. Gerber as an application of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) concept. to study the surfaces of insulating materials on an atomic scale. By combining the principles of the scanning tunnelling microscope and the profilometric stylus, the authors demonstrated the possibility of imaging, in open air, the surface of conductive or non-conductive samples, with a lateral resolution of 30 Å and a vertical resolution of less than 1 Å. Since then, the technique has been adapted to a variety of environments, including vacuum, liquids, low temperatures and magnetic fields, as well as for applications in chemistry and biology.

• March 19, 2026

  N4801 Reviewed

  Ceramic coatings by assisted PVD or CVD or plasma spraying

  In order to address the fragility, complexity and cost of ceramic parts, the industry has developed ceramic coatings on metal parts with a thickness ranging from a few millimeters up to several meters. The thin deposits (of less than a few millimeters) are formed either by physical vapor deposition evaporation assisted by electrons, ions, plasma, laser, or by chemical vapor deposition assisted or not by plasma. Thick deposits (from 50 to a few millimeters) are achieved by spraying particles of a few tens of millimeters via flame or thermal plasma. Certain application examples, related to the properties of the deposits obtained, are presented. After having provided a brief assessment of the costs of the various deposits, this article deals with development prospects.

• March 3, 2026

  TRI4650 Reviewed

  Skid Resistance

  This article presents a brief overview of the current state of knowledge on skid resistance. After presenting the basic concepts related to skid resistance such as the tire/road contact mechanisms, the role of the texture of road surfaces or the characterization methods, the article focuses on the influence of contaminants and road surface wear, and specifically addresses little-studied aspects such as surfaces covered by snow or ice, and wear due to aging of bituminous materials and seasonal variations.

• December 15, 2025

  TRI150 Reviewed

  Scratch Testing

  Although the scratch test has now become commonplace both in research as a measurement tool and in industry as a Quality Control method, its utility in gaining a quantitative measure of the adhesion of a coating has only been approached in the past few years. This article provides a timely review of recent progress made in extracting quantitative data from the scratch test. The combined use of the scratch test with other techniques has revealed additional data on sub-surface events that were not previously accessible. This article reviews these developments and looks ahead at future challenges.

• December 10, 2025

  TRI1450

  Wear Debris. Related Indices in Tribology

  Friction between mechanical parts generates debris, whose analysis reveals the underlying wear mechanisms. The concepts of third body and tribological circuit, as well as the morphological, chemical, and dynamic characterization of particles, are essential for early defect diagnosis and component lifespan optimization. Advanced analytical techniques and AI enable a detailed understanding of tribological phenomena, particularly useful for preventing failures in biomedical implants.

• November 3, 2025

  P1382 Reviewed

  Minimum Weight Its importance in an analytical or industrial process

  Most users verify their balances without knowing whether they meet their needs. As standards and regulations evolve, they now require the user to demonstrate that their balances meet the criteria set. Demonstration is done by determining the minimum weight, which must be lower than the smallest net amount of material weighed on the balance. This article explains how to comply with the requirements of the main standards and how to determine the minimum weight yourself in order to select a balance that reliably meets the requirements.

• March 6, 2025

  B5325 Reviewed

  Hydrostatic thrust bearings

  In full-film lubrication, the term "hydrostatic" is commonly used to describe all systems where the load is transmitted through a lubricant film and pressure is maintained by a pump. In practice, the term hybrid is rarely used, and the term hydrostatic bearing (or thrust bearing) is used interchangeably to describe a mechanism whose surfaces are either stationary or moving. However, this does not mean that its performance (load-carrying capacity, flow, etc.) is independent of speed: as we shall see, speed sometimes plays a decisive role. Although the lubricating fluid may be a gas or a liquid, in this presentation we shall confine ourselves to the case of Newtonian liquids. For gases, please refer to the article Thrust and aerodynamic bearings in this treatise.

• March 6, 2025

  B5321 Reviewed

  Hydrodynamic thrust bearings

  Recall the definitions of the various parameters in these tables:.

• March 6, 2025

  B5320 Reviewed

  Hydrodynamic thrust bearings

  Bearings are machine components used to guide rotating shafts. There are two main types of bearing: plain bearings and rolling bearings. In the former, the shaft rests on a bearing shell and is separated from it by a lubricant film; in the latter, rolling bodies (balls or rollers) separate the rotating ring from the outer bore. Depending on the direction of the load in relation to the rotating shaft, a distinction is made between radial load-carrying bearings, generally referred to as pillow blocks, and axial load-carrying thrust bearings. We will only discuss fluid bearings, and more specifically hydrodynamic bearings and thrust bearings, in which a thin film of fluid separates the surfaces in relative motion.

• January 6, 2025

  NM7200 Reviewed

  Nanoindentation hardness measurement

  Nanoindentation is a technique allowing for the measurement of the mechanical properties of thin layers and surface-treated materials. This article is dedicated to nanoindentation hardness measurement. The extremely precise apparatus requires to be datailed: normal force measurement and its applications, normal displacement measurement and indenter geometry. The precautions of use to be taken into account are then reviewed. To conclude, an analysis of the force-penetration curve is provided.

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