Executive Summary
Although one might be an expert in a specific field, many TLT readers have interests in other topics related to tribology and lubrication engineering. Many different areas were chosen in this month’s survey, but a few popular ones include biotribology and engine oil additives. Most believe young engineers are somewhat interested in tribology once they are exposed to it. One reader said, “One of the most fun things about tribology is that it covers practically everything, and so I never stop learning.”
Q.1 If you could switch to any area of tribology research or lubrication engineering, based solely on your interest in the subject, which area would you choose to work in and why?
Biotribology.
Macroscopic (not nano) wear modeling.
Biotribology and orthopedics. I think it would be fascinating to improve the technology and design joint replacements that work better and last for a patient’s lifetime.
Friction reduction based on synergistic interaction of fully formulated fluids and coated surfaces.
Biodegradable products.
I would not. One of the most fun things about tribology is that it covers practically everything, and so I never stop learning.
Surface tribology.
Rolling element bearing multibody dynamics and lubrication, coupled with high-speed rotordynamics, due to complexity of the issue and bearing failures.
Impact of defoamers on Group II through Group IV base oil formulations. As the industry moves to more refined base oils, the types and impact of defoamers in the lubricant also require evolution.
Use of natural products in lubrication; we have so much we can learn from nature, an untapped source of innovation.
Engine oil additives and improvements in fuel economy and performance, based on the shear volume of demand and the potential to make an impact on improving the product offerings.
Grease lubrication in electric vehicles (EVs). Grease is similar to oil lubrication in so many ways, but at the same time it is different as well. Another project I’ve been interested in is grease base oil evaporation. There are certainly many factors at play that differ from oil evaporation.
Wind power gear-box challenges.
Failure analysis of tribological interfaces.
Wear/failure analysis.
Engine oil additives.
Impact of mixing lubricants in machinery life and in results interpretation.
Field trials of new engine oil technologies.
How lubricant integrity is affected by excessive speed. It seems that people’s driving habits differ greatly, but driving fast seems to be the new normal.
Switching to tribological condition monitoring because it really answers the purpose of tribology to combat friction and wear and its losses, helping companies save money in a similar way to the Jost Report.
Biolubricant tribology, reason, depleting resources of mineral and synthetic lubricants and their negative effect on the environment. Need for new lubricants for EVs and Industry 4.0 lubricants.
Sustainability with good cost performance.
Lubrication engineering, because I get to be in the field with end-users working on problems and helping with reliability.
Surface engineering.
Space vessel lubrication for NASA applications. These are very demanding applications.
Lubricant chemistry on additives and its functions. It’s interesting to know how a small dosage can enhance the performance of the finished product.
Product advisor, to know more on product formulation and also application usage.
I would like to work to educate the general public about correct lubrication procedures and the many misconceptions about lubricants. One example being that red grease is better than all others. There are many misunderstandings about lubrication, and there are people that take advantage of others who are not well informed.
Engine oil development for hybrid vehicles and full EVs because this will be the future trend of the vehicle.
Surface optimization process.
Friction moment tests where both rolling and sliding occurs. It is the tribology everybody practices.
Biotribology.
Tribochemistry. My background is chemistry, so I see solutions having an elemental dependence.
Simulative material testing to solve applied tribology problems. It requires deep interdisciplinary knowledge of factors that influence performance, the use of advanced surface imaging and measurement tools, understanding the relevance of lab scale to field testing and gives satisfaction of applying a knowledge of evolving materials technology to solve real-world, enabling problems in machines and systems.
Synthetic lubricants, especially polyalphaolefins, because they exhibit various advantages over mineral-based lubricants. As far as environmental issues are concern, PAO-based lubricants result in less emissions compared to conventional base oils.
I’d like to know how the chemistry of additives work to do what they are supposed to do, how additives deteriorate and how they affect the life span or quality of the base oil.
Space-based lubricants, as I feel there will be an ever-increasing demand for these extreme-environment lubricants with commercial spaceflight coming of age. A second alternative would be lubricants for electric construction machines, as the push away from fossil-fuel powered vehicles will soon become exponential (due to need, not just demand).
Fine tuning of results/wear limits with automated result interpretation.
New dimensions for lubricants.
Hydraulic hybrid power transmission systems for energy efficiency.
Reliability. I watch most plants that I work with either have a high degree in lubrication and no reliability or the reverse. When we bring the two together, we can provide long-lasting equipment for a better ROI.
Q.2 Excluding tribology, if you could be involved in any area of technology or discovery, based solely on your interest in the subject, which would you choose and why?
Polymer chemistry.
Electronic materials, including photovoltaics.
Medical devices. I would love to use engineering to help improve patient outcomes and treatment.
Full-scale testing of novel tribological technologies.
Electric-driven machines.
Space exploration and travel.
Renewable energies.
Quantum mechanics of particle collisions, due to current experimental methods in particle physics, are analogous to smashing two cars together at extremely high speeds to determine what the original component parts are from the debris.
Environmental science. I believe we need to protect the earth and all its inhabitants, both human and animal. We need to find ways to fix the damage that has been done and to protect future life so it can flourish. Progress doesn’t have to mean destroying one thing at the expense of another.
Biochemistry, something related to human physiology, using my scientific propensities for humanity.
Internet of Things (IoT). It has such a huge potential to improve our lives and gain efficiencies in manufacturing.
I live near Domino’s Pizza Corporate Center, and they often have job postings for research scientists. I imagine they are always concocting new ways to make the pizza fresher, tastier or more efficient. I’ve always thought it would be exciting to be a scientist and a cook at the same time. After all, cooking is a form of science!
Another area of my research interest is new materials synthesis with functional properties. New materials with advanced functionalities are needed everywhere and particularly in tribology.
Mechanical system design.
Ecofriendly tribology.
Automobile powertrain engineering.
Machine learning.
Diesel engine emission technology.
Fine filtration and water-removal technologies. Not enough attention is given to this area.
Testing of mattresses for enhanced sleep.
The development of specific fuel additives that help the combustion process.
Maintenance and reliability engineering as a consultant because lubrication is just a small part of maintenance. The activities are about managing people for maintenance strategy. This position also offers an opportunity for a career development in operational areas.
Do you find young engineers are interested in tribology once they are exposed to it?
Yes, definitely
36%
Somewhat
46%
There is little interest
18%
Based on responses sent to 15,000 TLT readers.
Advanced manufacturing, 3D printing technology. Interested in manufacturing aspects.
Biobased feedstocks, new product development.
Electronics technology. The use of electronics for observing conditions and making changes to systems is exciting. The sky is the limit on what you can do with technology.
Surface structures and boundary layer engineering.
Space exploration because it has such a vast amount to still be learned.
Underwater habitat, besides moving away from earth. Another way is to go deep and explore.
I would choose agriculture because everyone in the world depends heavily on agriculture to supply their food. With the growing world population, agriculture has to become more efficient to continue to supply the world’s food supply.
Environmental-related technology because it’s crucial to have better technology on preserving the global environment from greenhouse effect.
Machine reliability and optimization.
Chemistry to biosources where nature already builds the blocks in the most efficient ways.
When you find the molecules, you just use them on an area where they are not supposed to.
Surface technology.
I think interfacial science and phenomenon is worth characterization.
I would like to be the director of a well-funded, top-quality, microscopy-based materials characterization laboratory. Applying advanced imaging methods to diverse and interesting problems also challenges one’s creativity and allows artistic expression.
I’d like to be involved in new chemistry formulation in increasing the quality and value of lubricants.
Machine health automated monitoring. The proposal is feasible and can realize big maintenance savings and efficiencies.
Biodegradable lubricants because they will be environmentally friendly.
Renewable, sustainable energy generation.
Low-carbon power generation.
Reliability aspects and how so many other areas of equipment life are the reason for failure instead of the lubricant.
3D printing, additive manufacturing. This area of research impacts tribological and non-tribological sectors.