TRIBOLOGY Where is the friction?
Identifying hidden tribological contacts in industrial lubrication
Raul Fernandes, Application Engineer, Interlub
Friction is routinely referenced in lubrication engineering, yet it is still one of the most misunderstood phenomena in maintenance practice. While definitions of friction are well established in tribology literature, the practical challenge for lubrication professionals is not what friction is, but where it actually occurs in real mechanical systems.
This article examines several industrial components where friction is frequently misunderstood or underestimated, and explains how identifying the true friction points leads directly to more effective lubricant selection and application.
In industrial environments, components are often lubricated by habit, OEM instruction, or historical practice rather than by a detailed understanding of surface contact, relative motion, and lubrication regime. This leads to common failures: incorrect viscosity selection, inappropriate additive chemistry, over- or under-lubrication, and premature wear.
Tribology in practice: Friction, wear and lubrication Tribology is the study of interacting surfaces in relative motion, encompassing friction, wear, and lubrication. In practical terms, lubrication engineers are concerned with controlling friction and wear through the creation of a protective film between surfaces.
Three lubrication regimes dominate industrial applications: • Boundary lubrication, where surface asperities are in direct contact and protection relies heavily on additives and solid lubricants
• Mixed lubrication, where partial separation exists but asperity contact still occurs
• Hydrodynamic lubrication, where a full fluid film separates surfaces completely
The majority of industrial components discussed in this article operate predominantly in the boundary
regime, characterised by low speeds, high loads, short sliding distances, and intermittent motion. Under these conditions, base oil viscosity alone is insufficient; additive chemistry, solid lubricants, and correct application become critical.
Understanding which regime is present depends entirely on knowing where friction occurs and how surfaces move relative to each other.
Why identifying friction points matters Effective lubrication is often described through six fundamentals: correct lubricant, correct location, correct quantity, correct frequency, correct tools, and correct personnel. Among these, applying the lubricant to the correct location is the most commonly underestimated.
Identifying the friction point means identifying: • Which surfaces are in contact • The type of motion (sliding, rolling, oscillating) • Relative speed between surfaces • Contact load and pressure • Exposure to contamination, fluids, or washout
Without this information, lubricant selection becomes guesswork. Speed, for example, is frequently misinterpreted. Shaft rotational speed does not
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