Reibpartner

Reibpartner is a term used in tribology to denote the pair of bodies or surfaces in contact where friction arises. The concept is central to understanding how contact interfaces resist relative motion and transmit forces. In English, the term is usually rendered as friction partner or contact pair.

Several factors govern the friction at a Reibpartner interface. The normal load pressing the surfaces together, the materials and their surface roughness, the presence and properties of lubricants, temperature, and sliding speed all influence the friction behavior. Interfaces are described by coefficients of friction, typically a static coefficient (µs) and a kinetic coefficient (µk), which depend on the specific material pair and operating conditions.

Reibpartner play a major role in many technologies. Common examples include brakes and clutches, gears, bearings, sliding guides, and couplings. In design, engineers select material pairs and surface finishes to optimize wear resistance, control heat generation, and minimize energy losses. Lubrication regimes—dry, boundary, mixed, and hydrodynamic—affect the effective friction between partners and help limit wear.

Analysis and testing of Reibpartner behavior rely on tribological experiments and models. Methods such as pin-on-disk, ball-on-flat, and block-on-ring tests quantify friction and wear. Wear rates are often described by empirical or theoretical laws (for example, Archard's wear law), linking wear volume to load, contact area, sliding distance, and material hardness.

Overall, Reibpartner describe the contact pair at the heart of friction phenomena. Understanding their properties supports the design of more efficient, reliable, and durable mechanical systems.