Automotive Tribology

Dear Colleagues,

The automotive industry faces new challenges and fast technological changes. The continuous increase in the severity of government regulations outlines new targets for fuel consumption, pollution, and mechanical efficiency.

Considerable improvements in internal combustion engine tribology have been achieved in the last few years. On the other hand, despite the incessant increase in investments related to the electric vehicles sector, most of the scientific research has been focused on the energy efficiency and performance of batteries and electric powertrain, whereas topics related to new and unconventional architectures for brakes, bearings, driveline in hybrid or full electric vehicles have not been widely researched so far.

Modern automotive transmissions are effectively leading to high-level target about passengers' comfort, fuel economy, system reliability, performance, driving feeling, etc., whereas it is well known that additional improvements on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) response will come by deepening the coupled “physics” between lubrication systems, engineered surfaces, novel materials, and automatic control.

Furthermore, in the field of new materials and breakthroughs in tribology, nanoparticles as friction modifier additives in base oil or in solid media showed enhancement of extreme-pressure properties and load-carrying capacities of the thin film between sliding surfaces with a remarkable reduction in friction coefficient. New liquid lubricants incorporating nanomaterials may significantly contribute in the frictional processes of modern automotive systems with substantial economic and environmental advantages.

The current Special Issue of Lubricants is aimed at the latest developments concerning frictional mechanisms, material behavior in brakes and clutch facings, gearbox optimization, novel lubricants, and all the technical innovations linked to tribological progress in the fascinating automotive world.

Prof. Dr. Adolfo Senatore
Guest Editor

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