Engineered Surfaces and Tribological Performance

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of tribology (friction, wear and lubrication) is key to our understanding of bearing surfaces, helping improve the performance of various systems and devices—including critical biomedical devices—over time and under challenging operating conditions.

Surface engineering leverages machining, polishing methods and coatings to produce high quality surfaces. These engineered surfaces improve tribological performance, reducing wear and extending longevity.

The applications of tribological performance improvements are ubiquitous, ranging from low-regulation consumer products to highly regulated sectors, such as medical devices, nuclear and aerospace. In biomedical contexts, these engineered surfaces are crucial for improving the reliability and functionality of medical implants, wearable devices, and minimally invasive tools.

This topic seeks the submission of manuscripts covering aspects of one or more of the following areas:

• Processes used to achieve high quality surfaces;
• Surface measurement and analysis;
• Accelerated tribological (wear) testing;
• Modelling and simulation of tribological phenomena;
• Novel lubricants/methods of lubricant delivery.

Dr. Andrew Naylor
Prof. Dr. Min Li
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Coatings coatings	3.4	6.1	2011	12.3 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Journal of Functional Biomaterials jfb	5.9	9.7	2010	15.1 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Lubricants lubricants	3.6	5.6	2013	13 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Materials materials	3.7	7.0	2008	14.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Surfaces surfaces	2.7	4.2	2018	18.2 Days	CHF 1600	Submit

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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All Coatings Lubricants Materials Surfaces JFB

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21 pages, 6634 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Tribological and Corrosion Performance of Electroless Ni-P-Al₂O₃ Composite Coatings on Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

by Muhmmad Usman, Tauheed Shehbaz, Fahd Nawaz Khan, Muhammad Yasir and Julfikar Haider

Surfaces 2026, 9(3), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces9030066 - 21 Jul 2026

Viewed by 286

Abstract

Electroless coatings mark a significant improvement in surface engineering by providing superior uniformity, precision, and functional properties compared with traditional plating processes. Electroless Ni-P-Al₂O₃ composite coatings were successfully deposited on Ti-6Al-4V, forming a Ni-Ti intermediate (~14–16 µm) that ensured strong [...] Read more.

Electroless coatings mark a significant improvement in surface engineering by providing superior uniformity, precision, and functional properties compared with traditional plating processes. Electroless Ni-P-Al₂O₃ composite coatings were successfully deposited on Ti-6Al-4V, forming a Ni-Ti intermediate (~14–16 µm) that ensured strong interfacial bonding. Al₂O₃ concentration (0.2–1.4 g/L) strongly influenced microstructure and performance, with 0.4 g/L yielding the most refined coating. AFM revealed a dense, uniform surface with the lowest roughness (~23.4 nm). This composition achieved the highest hardness (464.6 HV_0.1), ~157% higher than the substrate and ~53% higher than Ni-P. It also showed superior tribological behavior, reducing wear volume to ~4.46 × 10⁻⁷ mm³ and friction coefficient to ~0.32 (~85% and ~50% reductions vs. substrate). Corrosion resistance was maximized at 0.4 g/L, with the lowest corrosion current (2.45 × 10⁻⁶ A/cm²) and rate (0.0053 mpy), outperforming both Ni-P and uncoated Ti-6Al-4V due to the compact composite matrix and stable passive film. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Engineered Surfaces and Tribological Performance)

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17 pages, 2785 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Interrelated Behavior of Friction, Interfacial Electrical Resistance, and Phosphate Reactivity on Automotive GA-Coated Steel Sheets as a Function of Lubricant Protective Film Coating Weight

by Ji-Young Kim, Hyun-Yeong Jung, Wan Yook and Seung-Chae Yoon

Surfaces 2026, 9(3), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/surfaces9030063 - 14 Jul 2026

Viewed by 304

Abstract

A lubricant protective film (LP) formed on automotive Zn-coated steel sheets is a functional surface layer that controls shear resistance at the die–sheet interface while also affecting the electrical contact state during resistance spot welding and the surface reactivity during paint pretreatment. In [...] Read more.

A lubricant protective film (LP) formed on automotive Zn-coated steel sheets is a functional surface layer that controls shear resistance at the die–sheet interface while also affecting the electrical contact state during resistance spot welding and the surface reactivity during paint pretreatment. In this study, the effect of LP coating weight on surface friction, interfacial electrical resistance, and degreasing–phosphate reactivity was analyzed for 340 MPa-grade galvannealed (GA) steel sheets within a unified surface-governed framework. The LP coating weight was controlled in the range of 0–1008 mg/m² on a single-sided basis. The friction coefficient, cup-drawing limit blank holding force (BHF), resistance spot welding current range, resistance–time product obtained by integrating dynamic resistance with respect to time, residual LP after degreasing, phosphate coating formation behavior, and forming simulation results using experimentally measured friction coefficients as input were comparatively evaluated. With increasing LP coating weight, the friction coefficient decreased from approximately 0.163 to 0.130 and then increased again to approximately 0.145 in the high-coating-weight regime. This surface-state change increased the limit BHF during cup drawing, whereas it narrowed the current range and increased the resistance–time product during resistance spot welding. In addition, under conditions above approximately 550 mg/m², residual LP after degreasing increased, and local no-growth regions of the phosphate coating were identified. These results show that, within the present test conditions, LP coating weight is not merely the amount of lubricant applied but a surface-state variable that concurrently influences frictional, electrical, and chemical responses. Therefore, within the scope of the present laboratory-scale framework, an LP coating weight of approximately 300–550 mg/m² should be interpreted not as a universal optimum, but as an operational surface window derived by balancing formability, the RSW process window, and phosphate reactivity under the present experimental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Engineered Surfaces and Tribological Performance)

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25 pages, 21938 KB  

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Surface Evolution of an FDM-Printed PLA Component with Multiple Geometries During Centrifugal Disc Finishing

by Jackson William Chadwick, Andrew Naylor, Tahsin Tecelli Öpöz, Juan Ignacio Ahuir-Torres and Xiaoxiao Liu

Coatings 2026, 16(6), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16060722 - 17 Jun 2026

Viewed by 384

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the fabrication of complex, customisable components from metals, composites and polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA); however, the process commonly produces poor surface finishes and inherent defects. Centrifugal disc finishing (CDF) is an established mass finishing technique in conventional [...] Read more.

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the fabrication of complex, customisable components from metals, composites and polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA); however, the process commonly produces poor surface finishes and inherent defects. Centrifugal disc finishing (CDF) is an established mass finishing technique in conventional manufacturing but remains insufficiently characterised for additively manufactured polymers. This exploratory study investigates the influence of CDF on fused deposition modelling (FDM)-fabricated PLA components with varying geometrical features, focusing on three-dimensional surface parameters including average areal surface roughness, skewness and kurtosis. Samples were processed up to 720 min with analysis at predetermined intervals to capture transient and steady-state-like behaviour. Surface characterisation was conducted using non-contact optical interferometry to obtain quantitative roughness data and three-dimensional topographical maps, supported by digital optical microscopy and gravimetric analysis to quantify material removal rates. Analysis of the experimental data indicated apparent relationships between processing time, geometry and surface response. Results indicate that material removal behaviour and roughness evolution may be geometry-dependent. Flat and convex surfaces appeared to follow expected transient-like and steady-state-like behaviour, whereas restricted geometries and intricate features exhibited distinct responses with characteristic transition times. Surface roughness reductions ranged from 36% to 89% depending on geometry. These findings provide preliminary quantitative insight into geometry-specific mass finishing behaviour, supporting improved process understanding and informing future optimisation of post-processing strategies for additively manufactured polymer components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Engineered Surfaces and Tribological Performance)

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16 pages, 12212 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Temperature on the Sliding Wear Behaviors of Carburized BG801 Bearing Steel

by Qiongdi Wang, Zhaojie Meng, Shuangyan Qi, Chunyang Luo, Xiuhua Guo, Zhaodong Wang and Kexing Song

Materials 2026, 19(5), 1034; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19051034 - 8 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 703

Abstract

The wear performance of BG801 bearing steel under elevated-temperature conditions exerts a decisive influence on the service life and operational reliability of aero-engine bearings. In this study, the vacuum low-pressure carburizing heat treatment technology was employed to perform surface carburization on BG801 bearing [...] Read more.

The wear performance of BG801 bearing steel under elevated-temperature conditions exerts a decisive influence on the service life and operational reliability of aero-engine bearings. In this study, the vacuum low-pressure carburizing heat treatment technology was employed to perform surface carburization on BG801 bearing steel, and the effect of carburization on the frictional properties of this steel was explored over a temperature range of 25 °C to 400 °C. The results indicate that with the increase in temperature, the friction coefficients of both the uncarburized specimens (hereinafter referred to as BG801-NC) and carburized specimens (hereinafter referred to as BG801-C) are maintained in the range of 0.5~0.8. Compared with BG801-NC, the wear rate of BG801-C is reduced by approximately 50% and exhibits an overall variation tendency of increasing first and then decreasing. At elevated temperatures, BG801-C presents superior wear resistance, which is attributed to the formation of a martensite–carbide composite strengthened layer on the surface of the bearing steel after carburizing treatment, a microstructure that remarkably enhances the surface hardness and wear resistance of the steel. Moreover, the carburized layer also diminishes the thickness of the plastic deformation layer during the friction process, thereby further suppressing the extension of wear damage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Engineered Surfaces and Tribological Performance)

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19 pages, 3343 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Alumina Abrasive Particles on Wear Behavior of Textured Surfaces Under Heavy-Load Conditions

by Dongyun Wang, Wenyao Zhang, Hongkang Dong, Xiaofeng Wei, Wei Hao and Xin Yao

Lubricants 2025, 13(12), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13120553 - 18 Dec 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 873

Abstract

This study investigates the lubrication properties of GCr15 steel textured surfaces under the conditions of low speed, heavy load, and boundary lubrication, with varying concentrations of Al₂O₃ particles. Through pin-on-disk tests in 46# hydraulic fluid, it was found that the [...] Read more.

This study investigates the lubrication properties of GCr15 steel textured surfaces under the conditions of low speed, heavy load, and boundary lubrication, with varying concentrations of Al₂O₃ particles. Through pin-on-disk tests in 46# hydraulic fluid, it was found that the texture density had little effect on the friction in the absence of abrasive particles and that the friction increases with an increasing texture density in the presence of abrasive particles. Abrasive particle concentration significantly increases the friction on smooth surfaces, while textured surfaces can retain abrasive particles and lubricants, mitigating the increase in friction. The impact of abrasive particles can wear down the texture edges and weaken its friction-reducing effect. This study reveals the interaction between abrasive particle concentration and texture density, providing a theoretical basis for designing textured surfaces suitable for abrasive-containing lubrication environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Engineered Surfaces and Tribological Performance)

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32 pages, 7332 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Scuffing Calculation of Cylindrical Gears Facing Loss of Lubrication

by Bernd Morhard, Thomas Lohner and Karsten Stahl

Lubricants 2025, 13(11), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13110484 - 2 Nov 2025

Viewed by 1417

Abstract

Loss of lubrication in aeronautic drivetrains can lead to catastrophic gearbox failure, and drivetrains must be tested to prove their resistance to loss of lubrication. Research led to a better understanding of the modes of action, interdependencies, and effective measures to optimize drivetrains [...] Read more.

Loss of lubrication in aeronautic drivetrains can lead to catastrophic gearbox failure, and drivetrains must be tested to prove their resistance to loss of lubrication. Research led to a better understanding of the modes of action, interdependencies, and effective measures to optimize drivetrains for a loss of lubrication event. However, there are currently no calculation methods available, so gear design against loss of lubrication is mainly based on experience. This study proposes a novel calculation method that builds upon the scuffing load calculation from ISO/TS 6336-21 to allow for scuffing safety calculation for cylindrical gears facing loss of lubrication. The proposed method synthesizes existing knowledge in the context of loss of lubrication and incorporates further research results concerning the friction, temperature, and scuffing of gears. The calculation method considers relevant gear design aspects and enables estimation of the time-to-failure. A calculation study is used to compare different measures for cylindrical gears facing loss of lubrication. The results demonstrate the remarkable potential for enhancing loss of lubrication performance through increased oil share in the fluid flow, the application of coatings, the adoption of low-loss gear designs, the use of low-friction lubricants, and the incorporation of additives that increase the scuffing temperature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Engineered Surfaces and Tribological Performance)

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