tribometriaan

Tribometriaan is a professional or researcher who specializes in tribometry, the measurement of friction, wear, and lubrication phenomena in interacting surfaces. The field is a branch of tribology, focusing on quantifying how materials behave under relative motion and how lubricants, coatings, and surface treatments influence performance and longevity.

Typical duties include designing and conducting experiments to determine friction coefficients, wear rates, and lubrication regimes. A tribometriaan selects appropriate test configurations such as pin-on-disk, ball-on-flat, or four-ball wear testers, and controls variables like load, sliding speed, temperature, humidity, and ambient conditions. They may screen lubricants, assess coatings, and evaluate material pairs for specific applications. Instrument calibration, adherence to industry or standard test methods, and meticulous documentation are essential.

Data analysis involves calculating metrics such as coefficient of friction, specific wear rate, and wear volume, along with interpreting wear mechanisms through surface characterization techniques (profilometry, microscopy, spectroscopy). The role often requires modeling contact conditions, assessing transition between boundary, mixed, and hydrodynamic lubrication, and communicating results to engineers and designers.

Applications span automotive and industrial machinery, bearings and gears, energy systems, aerospace components, and biomedical implants. A tribometriaan typically holds a degree in mechanical engineering, materials science, or a related field, with specialized training in tribology. Career paths include research and development, failure analysis, quality assurance, and consulting in industry or academia.