Tribology International最新文献

{"title":"Influence of wetting pinning on lubrication performance of bionic fluted structural surface under oil rich condition","authors":"Mengwen Hou ,&nbsp;Lianglong Zou ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Jiang ,&nbsp;Wenbin Chen ,&nbsp;Zhijun Yan ,&nbsp;Meihua Jin ,&nbsp;Jiujun Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111819","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Controlling the internal friction of lubricating oil films is crucial for reducing friction power loss, enhancing mechanical efficiency, and extending component service life. Natural organisms precisely regulate the dynamic behavior of liquids and gases through surface hydrophilic and hydrophobic pinning. Inspired by the natural widespread fluted structures, fluted structural surfaces (FSS) were fabricated using 3D printing. Through surface self-assembly and spraying methods, after oleophobic modification, the FSS were investigated how the orientation, groove spacing, and surface oleophobicity of these structures affect lubrication performance and the underlying mechanisms. The vertical-oriented fluted structure exhibits a lower friction coefficient due to a wedge effect, while an appropriate groove spacing further optimizes lubrication performance. Surface wettability significantly affects the lubricating performance of FSS. Under a load of 25 N and a reciprocating frequency of 7.5 Hz, the friction coefficient of the superoleophobic FSS (SoFSS) decreased by 58.3 % and 49.5 % compared to the oleophilic non-textured/textured surfaces, respectively. The results show that the superoleophobicity within the fluted grooves and the oleophilic wetting pinning at their tips enhance the formation and stability of the gas layer within the grooves, thereby synergizing and enhancing the hydrodynamic pressure effect to achieve gas-liquid mixed lubrication. This study provides a new insight for the design of advanced lubrication materials under complex operating conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111819"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Friction torque of deep groove ball bearing with grease-lubricated based on kinetic energy deceleration method","authors":"Panlong Wu ,&nbsp;Tingjian Wang ,&nbsp;Chuanwei Zhang ,&nbsp;Le Gu ,&nbsp;Wanjia Li ,&nbsp;Jinbao Huang ,&nbsp;Zongxiang Yue ,&nbsp;Shuangli He ,&nbsp;Liqin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Friction energy consumption represents the predominant form of energy loss in rolling bearings, and the friction torque is a crucial indicator of rolling bearing quality. To comprehensively characterize the friction performance of grease-lubricated bearings, a kinetic energy deceleration method was proposed to evaluate friction torque of rolling bearings. A series of experiments were performed on deep groove ball bearings (DGBB) lubricated with various greases using a dedicated test platform. Friction torque behavior was measured of DGBB with greases differing in base oil, thickener, and thickener content by employing the kinetic energy deceleration method. The results indicated that mineral oil-based grease exerted a greater influence on friction torque than synthetic oil-based grease under the same viscosity grade. Additionally, for lithium grease-lubricated bearings, the friction torque consistently exceeded the expected value in the low-speed region. As speed increases, the measured values gradually converge with the theoretical ones with a critical speed identified beyond which the two coincide. The friction torque in grease-lubricated bearings rises slightly with increased load, while the difference in torque across various loads narrows as angular speed rises.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111826"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of water in lubrication under sub-nano confinement: Insights from molecular dynamics simulation","authors":"Yuhao Wu ,&nbsp;Zhaozhe Meng ,&nbsp;Liguo Qin ,&nbsp;Hui Zhang ,&nbsp;Yin Zhang ,&nbsp;Guangneng Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111808","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111808","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The behavior of lubricants under sub-nanometer confinement remains poorly understood, limiting insight into fundamental lubrication processes. In this work, we employ molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the lubrication behavior of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) water under such extreme confinement using a simplified model. We show that 3D water can reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) to below 0.01. In this regime, the wall shear stress is linearly related to the diffusion coefficient perpendicular to the shear direction but independent of the lattice structure. The lubricating effect of water is dominated by pressure. When water is compressed into a 2D state, it exhibits distinct stick‑slip‑like characteristics, leading to an increased COF above 0.02, which is influenced by both pressure and solid lattice structure. This study provides molecular-level insights into confined water lubrication, advancing the understanding of friction under nanoconfinement conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111808"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Achieving near-net-forming of in-situ fabricated SiCp/2024Al composites with high performance by friction stir channeling assisted stationary shoulder friction stir processing","authors":"Chuanchao Xia ,&nbsp;Xiaobo Li ,&nbsp;Xiaochao Liu ,&nbsp;Xincheng Wang ,&nbsp;Tairui Zhang ,&nbsp;Biao Chen ,&nbsp;Xuecheng Jin ,&nbsp;Wenwen Sun ,&nbsp;Zhonghua Ni","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111786","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111786","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study developed a novel friction stir channeling assisted stationary shoulder friction stir processing (CaSSFSP) approach to minimize surface thinning and the ejection of reinforcement particles commonly encountered in conventional FSP, and successfully applied it to fabricate 10 vol% SiCp/2024Al composites. The influence of processing passes on the uniformity of SiC particles distribution was investigated. The microstructural characteristics, mechanical and tribological properties of the composites were systematically analyzed and evaluated. The results demonstrated the excellent near-net-forming capability of the CaSSFSP approach. With an increase in the number of processing passes from two to four, the formation of onion rings was significantly suppressed, leading to a remarkable improvement in the mechanical properties of the composites. After four-pass CaSSFSP processing, the composites achieved an elastic modulus of 92.7 GPa, a 23.9 % improvement over the matrix. Following T6 heat treatment, the yield strength of the composites reached 364.1 MPa, 16.7 % higher than that of the base metal. The wear rate was reduced by 35.2 % compared with the base metal. The enhanced mechanical and tribological properties are mainly attributed to the uniform distribution of SiC particles and their strong interfacial bonding with the aluminum matrix. Theoretical analysis further indicates that grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening are the dominant strengthening mechanisms in the SiCp/2024Al composites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111786"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modelling and analysis of non-contacting mechanical face seals with axial disturbances and misalignment","authors":"Ben S. Ashby ,&nbsp;Tristan Pryer ,&nbsp;Nicola Y. Bailey","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111761","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111761","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Advancements in industrial applications are driving developments in non-contacting mechanical seal technology. Key requirements include improvements in efficiency and reliability, which lead to smaller clearances, lower frictional losses, and minimisation of wear, during operation. However, a critical consideration is the effect of external disturbances experience by the seal from the local environment which may cause destabilisation, and lead to premature failures through unanticipated face contact.</div><div>This work examines the dynamic behaviour of a non-contacting mechanical face seals, where a thin fluid film separates a pair of coaxial discs; a rotor (rotating face) and stator (stationary face). It is assumed that the rotor–stator have an angular misalignment and operation is under conditions involving large axial disturbances, representing external disturbances. A fully coupled unsteady mathematical representation is developed, where the fluid flow is coupled to the structural response of the stator, and the rotor motion is prescribed. The stator is modelled as a spring–mass–damper system, and the fluid film model is based on a lubrication approximation of the Navier–Stokes equations. The governing equations are solved via a numerical technique based on finite element and Runge–Kutta methods.</div><div>A parameter study reveals the impact of misalignment on the seal dynamics, when experiencing an external disturbance. The angle of misalignment and corresponding amplitude of forcing can be identified when the minimum fluid film thickness becomes less than a given tolerance. This provides insights into safe operating conditions and manufacturing tolerances, with the research aiding to improve the design critera and reliability of non-contacting mechanical face seals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111761"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tribochemically driven construction of C/WO3 low-adhesion sliding interfaces in WC/a-C films","authors":"Xiangxiang Pan ,&nbsp;Dongqing He ,&nbsp;Feng Mao ,&nbsp;Lunlin Shang ,&nbsp;Jun Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reveals the formation mechanism of the C/WO₃ low-adhesion sliding interface in WC/a-C films under low-humidity atmospheric conditions. Experiments show that sliding friction induces shear-stress-activated oxidation of WC nanoparticles, generating a WO₃ transfer film on the counterpart steel ball which chemically adheres via Fe-O-W bonds. This interfacial reconstruction establishes a stable C/WO₃ contact, achieving a low friction coefficient of 0.03. First-principles calculations confirm that the selective transfer originates from the strong chemisorption of WO₃ on Fe (-24.94 eV), far exceeding the van der Waals interaction at the C/Fe interface (-7.23 eV), thereby stabilizing the WO₃ layer on the steel counterpart. Charge density and Bader charge analyses reveal significant electron transfer, directly validating the Fe-O-W bonding mechanism for low friction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111821"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into microstructure and fretting wear behavior of additively manufactured oxide reinforced FeCrAl alloy for nuclear reactors","authors":"K.R. Ramkumar ,&nbsp;Salikh Omarov ,&nbsp;Christopher Silligman ,&nbsp;Mkpe Kekung ,&nbsp;Sanika Paranjape ,&nbsp;Pial Das ,&nbsp;Sougata Roy","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111790","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111790","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The FeCrAl (Iron-Chromium-Aluminum) ferritic alloy is widely recognized for its exceptional oxidation resistance and superior mechanical performance in nuclear applications. Owing to its manufacturing versatility, this alloy has also gained significant importance in the field of additive manufacturing (AM). In the present work, Y₂O₃-reinforced FeCrAl composites were developed using the direct energy deposition (DED) technique with reinforcement concentrations of 0.2 and 0.6 wt%. For comparison, the study also considered pure alloy in wrought form and in-printed form using mechanically milled powders. The study revealed key microstructural features, including morphological differences, and precipitate formation in DED-processed and conventionally fabricated alloys. The findings demonstrate that Y₂O₃ reinforcement significantly enhanced the mechanical and high-temperature wear resistance by promoting the formation of oxide layer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111790"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microstructural evolution and high-temperature properties of laser cladding WTaMoNb refractory high-entropy alloy coatings: The critical role of gradient preheating temperature","authors":"Kaitian Mei ,&nbsp;Wenshan Guo ,&nbsp;Yangyang Fang ,&nbsp;Jiayuan Huang ,&nbsp;Wangqing Wu （吴旺青）","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111792","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111792","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study employed a gradient preheating process (from room temperature to 350°C) to assist laser cladding technology, successfully producing a WTaMoNb refractory high-entropy alloy coating on an Inconel 718 substrate. It systematically investigated the cross-scale regulation mechanism of preheating temperature on the coating's macroscopic formation, microstructure, and high-temperature properties. The study reveals that the preheating process significantly suppresses porosity and crack formation by reducing the cooling-solidification rate of the melt pool, thereby enhancing coating formation quality. Phase analysis confirmed that all coatings comprised body centered cubic (BCC) phase, (Ni, Fe) phase, and Fe₇(Nb, Ta)₃ intermetallic compound (IMC). While preheating temperatures did not induce new phase formation, they optimized phase distribution and precipitation ratios by regulating element diffusion kinetics. Increasing preheating temperatures enhanced the diffraction peak intensities of both BCC phases and IMCs to varying degrees. Performance tests revealed that the S4 coating (preheated at 250℃) exhibited the highest microhardness (897.2 HV) due to the combined effect of solid solution strengthening and precipitation strengthening, which was 3.6 times higher than that of the substrate. The high-temperature wear rate (2.39 ×10⁻⁵ mm³/mN) and oxidation weight gain rate (0.29 mg²·cm⁻⁴·h⁻¹) were both optimized to one fifth of the substrate, demonstrating the best high-temperature performance. This study provides a new strategy for the preparation and performance optimization of high-performance refractory high-entropy alloy coatings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111792"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Friction-corrosion behavior of (Ti42.5Zr42.5Nb10Ta5)100-x Mox (x = 0, 5) high-entropy alloys","authors":"Naiyi Lei ,&nbsp;Jiaqing Qin ,&nbsp;Shaolei Long ,&nbsp;Che Zhang ,&nbsp;Shengfeng Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhentao Yu ,&nbsp;Yanliang Yi","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111784","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111784","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ti-based high-entropy alloys (HEAs), (Ti_42.5Zr_42.5Nb₁₀Ta₅)_{100-<em>x</em>}Mo_<em>x</em> (<em>x</em> = 0, 5), were developed and evaluated for tribocorrosion, mechanical, and corrosion performance under simulated physiological conditions (PBS and SBF at 37 ℃). Both alloys exhibit a single-phase BCC solid-solution structure, and the addition of 5 at% Mo increases the yield strength from 703 ± 14.5 MPa to 925 ± 6.4 MPa while maintaining high ductility. Both alloys show excellent corrosion resistance, which is attributed to the formation of multi-component passive films composed of TiO₂, ZrO₂, Nb₂O₅/ NbO₂, and Ta₂O₅; Mo addition introduces MoO₂ into the passive film, modifying its electrochemical behavior and repassivation capability. Despite slightly higher friction coefficients, the HEAs exhibit significantly lower wear rates than TC4 alloy in both PBS and SBF. Material degradation is governed by a strong tribocorrosion synergy involving wear-induced depassivation and corrosion-assisted material removal. Mo alloying suppresses subsurface cracking and reduces material loss by enhancing mechanical strength and repassivation efficiency. Overall, the superior tribocorrosion performance of TiZrNbTaMo HEAs arises from the coupled effects of microstructural strengthening and passive film stability, highlighting their potential for wear-sensitive biomedical implant applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111784"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the effects of nanostructure of adsorbed nonionic surfactants on water-based lubrication","authors":"Feng Wei ,&nbsp;Xinyan Wang ,&nbsp;Shuwen He ,&nbsp;Wan Yan ,&nbsp;Xiaozhi Zhan ,&nbsp;Tao Zhu ,&nbsp;Hai Xu ,&nbsp;Rongsheng Cai ,&nbsp;Xuzhi Hu ,&nbsp;Feng Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water-based lubricants hold significant importance across multiple fields due to their environmental benignity, non-flammable safety, excellent thermal conductivity, and cost-effectiveness. However, modern water-based lubricants suffer from severe shortcomings in lubrication efficiency and anti-wear performance, limiting their broader applications. To address this problem, additives such as nonionic surfactants can be added into the formulations. This study investigates the adsorption behaviours of a typical group of nonionic surfactants, alkyl ethoxylates, denoted as C₁₂E_m, (m = 3, 6, 12, 23) on 304 stainless-steel surfaces and their correlation with lubrication performance. By using surface tension measurements, contact angle measurements, friction and wear tests, as well as various surface characterization techniques (such as spectroscopic ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, and neutron reflectometry), the intrinsic connection between the molecular structure of nonionic surfactants and their lubrication performance can be revealed. The results demonstrate that the balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments in the molecular structure directly influences their adsorption configuration on metal surfaces, thereby exerting a significant impact on their lubrication and anti-wear performance. Specifically, nonionic surfactants with shorter ethoxylate chain lengths (EO) (e.g., C₁₂E₃) form dense bilayers, providing excellent lubrication and anti-wear effects, whereas those with longer EO chains (e.g., C₁₂E₁₂ and C₁₂E₂₃) exhibit weaker adsorption abilities and inferior lubrication performance. This research not only provides a theoretical basis for the design of high-performance, eco-friendly water-based lubricants but also propels the advancement of environmentally friendly lubricating materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23238,"journal":{"name":"Tribology International","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 111798"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}