Surface Diagnostics in Tribology: Fundamental Principles and Applications

This book provides final year undergraduate students, graduate students, research scientists and engineers with an up-to-date overview of the power of using surface analytical techniques for probing complex solid surfaces and lubricants as well as for understanding their interactions in tribological systems. The first three introductory chapters illustrate the need for surface analysis in tribology and the essentials of the analytical techniques. Following these, eight chapters on applications give insight into the contribution of the major analytical techniques to tribology. These chapters are divided into three groups. The first group deals with the applications of surface analytical techniques to the study of the adhesion, friction, deformation, wear, structure and chemistry of solid surfaces at the atomic scale or in well-defined conditions. The second group focuses mainly on solid lubricants and tribological surface modifications. Lastly, the third group covers liquid lubricants in molecularly thin-film lubrication and in boundary lubrication and their interactions with surfaces.