In the Tribology and Wear Protection division, we investigate technological and process innovations relating to friction and wear. Thus, we contribute to socially and macroeconomically relevant topics such as resource, energy and material efficiency. Additional aspects are environment protection and sustainability by investigating ecotoxicologically acceptable fuels and lubricants (biofuels and biolubes) – including those based on renewable raw materials. With our tests in hydrogen and natural gas environment we contribute to the safety of components in future transportation and energy supply systems.
Testing prerequisites as well as material- and lubrication-related solutions needed to achieve these goals are established in cooperation with national and international partners to further technological development. This is because human toxicological and ecotoxicological regulations with Europe- or worldwide validity necessitate the provision of a growing number of substitutes or new solutions for well-established, high-performance materials, coatings and lubricants.
The findings of our research are applied to international standardisation and are provided in tribological databases.