ABSTRACT
Tribology is an interdisciplinary subject in science and engineering. It covers vast areas from atomic level to cosmic one, because friction, wear, and lubrication exist wherever two materials are in sliding/rolling contact. In corrosion science, electrochemistry is a powerful tool to analyze phenomena and is applied to tribocorrosion. Although the present state of its understanding is by far incomplete, the electrochemical approach, as represented by the redox process, will be useful. A new approach to such processes has been recently presented in work. It is focused on the novel and better understanding of tribochemistry by combining redox process with the Negative-ion-radical action mechanism (NIRAM) concept. The redox process is very important because lubricant used in tribocorrosion is conductive and controllable electrochemically from the outside. Similar to the tribocorrosion governed by electron transfer, the tribochemical phenomena should be attributed to the transfer/emission of electrons. Tribochemical reactions are now expected to be applied in chemical reactions more extensively.
