Dry friction is governed by microstructure, surface topography and chemical composition of the two materials in sliding contact. The initial state of the materials, adsorbates from the environment as well as mechanical and thermal load history determine the steady state properties of the resulting tribomaterial layers in the vicinity of the sliding interface. Recent progress in high resolution materials characterization (XPS, AES, FIB-TEM, TOF-SIMS, EFTEM, APT) in combination with more materials realism in atomistic and mesoscale tribosimulation (large scale quantum molecular dynamics, reliable force fields, discrete dislocation dynamics) results in essential new insights into the evolution of metals, ceramics, polymers and macromolecular materials subject to dry friction conditions. This renewed materials science-based approach to tribology has for example revealed the very early stages of dislocation self-organization as well as how dislocation mediated plastic flow is responsible for mechanical mixing and fold formation. The field also focuses on 2D materials and how they can be applied to achieve macroscale superlubricity as well as the influence of the chemical properties of the last few nanometers of the contacting materials, including the tribochemistry of adsorbates.

This symposium will join experimentalists and modelers to provide a complementary view on tribo-induced material modifications that will allow for an improved understanding and control of dry friction and boundary lubricated systems.

adhesion crystallographic structure dislocations nano-indentation scanning electron microscopy (SEM) scanning probe microscopy (SPM) surface chemistry transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tribology x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)