Tribology - the friction and wear of materials
AimsBefore you startIntroductionSurface topographyFriction - recapFriction - properties of the coefficient of friction, μFriction theoryLubrication - introduction and types of lubricantsLubrication - additivesWear - introductionWear by hard particles - abrasion and erosionSummaryQuestionsGoing furtherTLP creditsTLP contentsShow all contentViewing and downloading resourcesAbout the TLPsTerms of useFeedbackCredits Print this page
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Introduction
It is often desirable for frictional forces and wear rates to be low, because friction increases the work needed to achieve a task and wear is detrimental to component performance and lifetime.
However, not all engineered materials need to have low friction and low wear rates. High friction between shoes and the floor is desirable when walking, and high wear rates are beneficial in metallographic specimen preparation (grinding away and then polishing a surface).