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Advanced Surface Engineering for Tribological Applications

A Special Issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417) belonging to the section "Surface Sciences and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 2117

Editors


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Guest Editor
División de Ingeniería Industrial, Grupo de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Universidad Politécnica del Valle de México, Tultitlán 54910, Edo. México, Mexico
Interests: hard coatings; tribology; wear and tear; mechanical and physical properties

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Guest Editor
División de Ingeniería Industrial, Grupo de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Universidad Politécnica del Valle de México, Tultitlán 54910, Edo. México, Mexico
Interests: material mechanics; numerical modeling

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Guest Editor
División de Ingeniería Industrial, Grupo de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Universidad Politécnica del Valle de México, Tultitlán 54910, Edo. México, Mexico
Interests: tribology; wear; friction

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Av Carlos Lazo 100, Santa Fe, La Loma, Álvaro Obregón, Ciudad de México 01389, Mexico
Interests: mechanical engineering; advanced manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue is dedicated to presenting the latest developments in the design, characterization, and application of surface engineering technologies aimed at enhancing the tribological performance of materials and components. This volume gathers original research and review papers covering hard coatings and solid lubricants, thermo-chemical treatments, laser texturing, and other surface modification techniques to reduce wear and friction under diverse operating conditions. Both fundamental studies—such as the relationship between microstructure and tribological properties—and applied research in strategic sectors like automotive, energy, aerospace, biomedical, and advanced manufacturing are featured. Contributions also include works on advanced characterization techniques, computational simulation of contact, and modeling of wear mechanisms, as well as the integration of emerging technologies, such as smart functional coatings and nanotechnology-based solutions. This Special Issue aims to promote knowledge exchange among researchers, engineers, and designers, fostering innovation in tribology and its contribution to efficiency, sustainability, and the reliability of high-value mechanical systems and products.

Prof. Dr. Noé López Perrusquia
Prof. Dr. Marco Antonio Doñu-Ruíz
Prof. Dr. Ernesto David Garcia Bustos
Dr. Milton Carlos Elías-Espinosa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • advanced tribology
  • hard coatings
  • surface treatments
  • tribological modeling and simulation
  • microstructure and properties

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 147491 KB  
Article
Wear and Friction Properties of Boronitrocarburized AISI 1018 Steel Using the Powder-Packing Method in a Single Stage
by Iyari Alejandro Nava-Téllez, Javier Arturo Jaime-Sánchez, Milton Carlos Elias-Espinosa and Aline Hernández-García
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(11), 5451; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16115451 - 30 May 2026
Viewed by 423
Abstract
The thermochemical diffusion treatment of boronitrocarburizing in a single stage was conducted on AISI 1018 steel using the powder-packing method. The treatment was performed at temperatures of 1123 K, 1173 K, and 1223 K for 8 h. The specimens were characterized using Scanning [...] Read more.
The thermochemical diffusion treatment of boronitrocarburizing in a single stage was conducted on AISI 1018 steel using the powder-packing method. The treatment was performed at temperatures of 1123 K, 1173 K, and 1223 K for 8 h. The specimens were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) enabling a superficial elemental analysis of B, N, and C diffusion into the substrate. The tribological effects of friction and wear under dry conditions were analyzed through a pin-on-disc test, employing an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) sphere and a profilometer to measure mass loss. The study concluded that the sample treated at 1173 K exhibited the best tribological performance, showing the lowest coefficient of friction (μ0.1216), while the samples treated at 1123 K and 1223 K exhibited coefficients of friction of μ0.1611 and μ0.1856, respectively. All treated samples showed a reduction in the coefficient of friction compared to the control sample (μ0.558). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Surface Engineering for Tribological Applications)
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27 pages, 9320 KB  
Article
A Study of the Groove Geometry Effects on the Performance of Water-Lubricated Rubber Journal Bearings
by Ahmad Golzar Shahri, Asghar Dashti Rahmatabadi, Mahdi Zare Mehrjardi and Mehrdad Rabani
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 3603; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16073603 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 738
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the static performance of water-lubricated rubber bearings (WLRBs) with axial grooves. To achieve this objective, an analytical approach is employed that combines a modified Reynolds equation, accounting for surface groove effects and rubber deformation, with a Winkler model [...] Read more.
This study aims to investigate the static performance of water-lubricated rubber bearings (WLRBs) with axial grooves. To achieve this objective, an analytical approach is employed that combines a modified Reynolds equation, accounting for surface groove effects and rubber deformation, with a Winkler model and finite element analysis of pressure distribution. By developing a fluid–structure interaction model that incorporates rubber liner deformation, this research reveals the interaction between WLRB geometry and steady-state performance parameters. The investigation evaluates the influence of geometric characteristics, including groove shape, number, and size, on the performance of elastomeric liner WLRBs, while assessing optimal groove depths under various conditions. The study analyzes five distinct groove geometries, including semi-cylindrical, rectangular prism, and three pyramidal types with different apex positions, in a six-groove bearing configuration, presenting their qualitative effects on the behavior of the examined bearings. The key findings indicate that increasing groove size or quantity reduces maximum pressure and load-carrying capacity while elevating friction coefficients. As groove count rises, supporting surfaces diminish, causing pressure distribution to intensify and minimum film thickness to decrease under a specified external load. A notable result reveals that when groove depth exceeds film thickness, performance becomes geometry-independent; however, shallower grooves exhibit significant geometric effects. Additionally, the study identifies groove ends as critical functional zones where film thickness reduction substantially enhances pressure distribution and static performance. Comparative analysis shows that longitudinal grooves with triangular cross sections outperform semi-circular and rectangular variants, with the backward triangular configuration demonstrating superior characteristics due to optimal end-film properties. In conclusion, this research provides a detailed understanding of how groove geometry influences the static performance of WLRBs, highlighting the importance of groove design, particularly at the groove ends, in optimizing bearing functionality. The findings offer valuable insights for the design and selection of groove configurations in water-lubricated rubber bearing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Surface Engineering for Tribological Applications)
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