Molecular Tribology

Molecular tribology—the study of tribology at atomic and molecular scales—constitutes a new frontier of tribology research. In a major surge of activity, experimental methods have recently been developed to measure dynamic interfacial forces in shear. Building partly on earlier, somewhat neglected friction studies, striking new findings have been obtained. The new methods include the surface forces apparatus for measuring adhesion and static interfacial forces as a function of surface separation, new molecular tribometers for measuring friction in shear, atomic force microscopy, use of UHV tribometers, and the quartz-crystal microbalance. Theoretical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations are also emerging for friction in dry and lubricated sliding.On the scientific side, appreciation is growing that scientific understanding of these systems, so complex and so far from equilibrium, is possible. Tribology is becoming recognized as an area with many exciting and useful surface science opportunities.The engineering significance is that while tribology design and tribology-based applications are rooted in our economic life, too often the technologies and formulations are empirically derived. One tends to take friction, wear, and tear for granted. A scientific understanding is needed so that better design can emerge by rational extension.This review seeks to bring out the excitement of new developments. The reader is referred to the original literature for full accounts.