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All articles pub fee of U8, $2.50, ao payable through her kinds of copying, such as for general Durposes we Tor creating new collective ned from the publisher for such eopying for any injury andor damage to persons negligence or otherwise, ot from uny use tions or ideas contained in the material Weor, 136 (1990) 1-17 1 ‘TRIBOLOGY ~- ORIGIN AND FUTURE* H PETER JOST President, Internationol Tribology Couneil, K. S. Poul Products Ltd, Angel Lodge Labs. Nobel Roed, London N18 3DB (U.K) 1, Introduction We all know the story of Newton asleep under an apple tree, when ‘an apple fell on his head. He woke up, and established “the Laws of Gravity”. As Tribologists, we may well ask whether, had Newton slipped on a banana skin, that, would have led to his recognition of the importance of force trans ference between two surfaces in relative motion, from which the concept of tribology might have been born 300 years ago. ‘Alas, bananas were not availabie in the 17th century, and this recogni- tion therefore had to wait until 1966 when, on March 9, 1966, the word and concept of tribology were first enunciated to an unsuspecting world in a report of a Committee of the British Department (Ministry) of Education and Science [1]. In it, tribology, derived from the Greck tribos-rubbing, was defined as “The science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion - and of associated subjects and practices” Largely because of its multi-disciplinary nature, the concept of tribol: ogy had been universally neglected, or even overlooked. As a direct result of, this neglect, the development of mechanical engineering design had een retarded, and vast sums of money had been lost through unnecessary wear and frietion and their consequences. 2. The search for a word ‘There can be no moving parts, whether sliding, rolling or rubbin; where forces are not transmitted from one moving surface to another, whe- ther in a large stec! rolling mill, a person walking on a earpet, or indeed a mechanism of a space station. Yet, during the Committee’s work, it was found the English language, or any other language, had no existing word for the concept of “interacting surfaces in relative motion” and its technical and economic consequences. This surprised even the members of the specia- list committee. ‘Mter consultation with the Editor of the Oxford Dietionary, the word and concept of “tribology” were invented. Tribology is now recognized as a vital ingredient of our Lechnological age. It has become one of the few tech nologies, which is likely to influence significantly the design of many mech- “Opening address of Eyrotrib '$9, Helsinki sever Sequoia) Printed in The Netherlands2 anisms; furthermore it is one that could limit mechanical engineering devel- opment, if additional research and development cannot bridge the present knowledge gap, and all this even before the end of this century Tribology is now in the dictionary of every industrial country sit has reached the ultimate etymological recognition, viz. a detailed entry in the supplement of the Oxford English Dictionary {2]. All over the world there are now professorial chairs and courses in tribology in universities and poly- technics, Projects in tribology have even found their way into schoolwork. ‘Tribology Societies and Groups are flourishing in many countries, and their world organisation, the International Tribology Council, provides an inter national link which strengthens all of them, 3. Beonomie savings In spite of the fact that tribology has been wentified asa subject of great, importance, largely because of its multi-diseiplinary nature embracing phy- sics, chemistry, metallurgy and engineering, the concept of tribology had previously received insufficient attention. .As a result, development of design was retarded, and many hundreds of millions of pounds were lost each year through unnecessary wear, friction and connected breakdowns, wasted energy ete. The DES, report stated that in the UK. alone £515 000000 fat 1965 values) could be saved, if greater attention were paid to tribology (Fig. 1). [t was this figure of savings that launched tribology on its successful road. In other words economies, rather than logic or needs lie at the root of the world-wide recognition of tribology. I am sure that a lesson is to be learnt from this, Experience over the past 23 years has shown that the estimated savings, approximately 1% of the GNP, were a significant underestimate, It is now it. 1. Economie savings through tribology, as shown in DES. Report, million at 1968 values) 966, (19 & believed that proper attention to and application, could lead to ec of the GNP. Even more importa mally be obtained without any si ‘A number of official invest the Federal German Republic [: countries in every case confirme ‘magnitude of the GNP. The last period of 5 years, in which over the economic savings but also industry. These varied from 1:40 metallurgical industry. In other £1000, annual savings in the regia confidently be expected within a ‘The Chinese Report went i ‘cessors, and far more thoroughly Coal Mining”, 24 coal mines wer ged in ten categories: (1) drilling transportation; (6) hoisting; (7) \ air; (10) eoal washing. The num used under these headings numb against the research and develop achieve such savings, was conserv per annum for a once only exp ratio is similar to that of 1:64, Report “Strategy of Energy Savin 4. The trend towards materials sei Once the initial shortcoming cation had been dealt with, it science and technology ranked e ‘machinery. This applied particula In 1983, an investigation in billion DM (~£13 billion) throug accounted for 17.78 billion DM metallurgical industries, the cost largest single cost component. In of 490 million DM (£163 million) (£87 million), ie, 53% was due | tion of wear causes and prevent materials science and technology the identified economic losses. ‘Therefore, if as the results o' subject of tribology were to be ¢imit mechanical engineering devel- opment cannot bridge the present > end of this century. of every industrial country: it has ition, viz. a detailed entry in the rary [2]. All over the world there tribology in universities and poly- found their way into schoolwork. shing in many countries, and their bology Council, provides an inter- been identified asa subject of great lisciplinary nature embracing phy. ing, the concept of tribology had AS a result, development of desi ions of pounds were lost each yi | connected breakdowns, wasted tin the U.K. alone £515 000000 attention were paid to tribology aunched tribology on its successful han logic or needs lie at the root of Tam sure that a lesson is to be s shown that the estimated savings, ignificant underestimate, It is now ‘ue re than fs shown in DES. Report, 1966, (in £ a believed that proper attention to tribology, especially in education, research and application, could Jead to economic savings of between 1.3% and 1.6% of the GNP. Even more important, the first 20% of such savings ean nor- mally be obtained without any significant investment. A number of official investigations, much larger than the U.K. one, in the Federal German Republic [3], Canada [4], China [5] and some other countries in every case confirmed ‘the estimated savings of these orders of magnitude of the GNP. The last of these reports, conducted in China over a period of 5 years, in which over 5000 people took part, outlined not only the economic savings but also the cost of obtaining them, industry by industry. These varied from 1:40 in the coal mining industry to 1:76 in the metallurgical industry. In other words, for a “once only” expenditure of £1000, annual savings in the region of £40.00 or £76 000 respectively could confidently be expected within a few years. ‘The Chinese Report went into details, far greater than any of its prede- cessors, and far more thoroughly. For instance, in the area of “Tribology in Coal Mining”, 24 coal mines were selected; the ynachinery in each was arran- ged in ten categories: (1) drilling; (2) tunnelling: (8) mining; (4) loadings (5) transportation; (6) hoisting; (7) ventilation ; (8) air cleaning; (9) compressed air; (10) coal washing, The number of machinery and equipment in China used under these headings numbers about 1 million, The total rate of savings against the research and development, required in Chinese Coal Mining, to achieve such savings, was conservatively estimated to be 40 units of savings per annum for a once only expenditure of 1 unit. ‘This investment /savings ratio is similar to that of 1:64, contained in the U.S. Government funded Report “Strategy of Energy Saving for Tribology” [6] 4. The trend towards materials seience Once the initial shortcomings relating to lubrication in design and appli cation had been dealt with, it became increasingly clear that materials science and technology ranked equal with design in the reduction of wear of machinery. ‘Phis applied particularly in the field of unlubricated wear. In 1983, an investigation in the F.1.G. estimated a total loss of 38.71 billion DM (= £13 billion) through tribological causes. Unlubricated systems accounted for 17.78 billion DM (£6 billion) [7]. However, in the coal and. metallurgical industries, the cost due to unlubricated wear of 53% was the largest single cost component. In the German Steel Industry, out of a total ‘of 490 million DM (£163 million) maintenance cost of wear, 260 million DM (£87 million), ie. 53% was due to unlubricated wear (8] (Fig. 2). Investiga- tion of wear causes and prevention of unlubricated systems revealed that materials science and technology was the prineipal subject area to remedy the identified economic tos ‘Therefore. if as the results of the developments of the past 20 years, the subject of tribology were to be divided into its main constituents, jr. in its