ABSTRACT
Abstract .................................................................................................................. 184 8.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 184
8.1.1 Tribology ........................................................................................... 185 8.1.1.1 Industrial Signicance of Tribology .................................. 185
8.1.2 Friction .............................................................................................. 185 8.1.2.1 Types of Friction ................................................................ 185
8.1.3 Wear .................................................................................................. 186 8.1.3.1 The Wear Process .............................................................. 187
8.1.4 Lubrication ........................................................................................ 187 8.1.4.1 Functions of Lubricants ..................................................... 187 8.1.4.2 Types of Lubricants............................................................ 187
8.1.5 Nanotechnology ................................................................................ 188 8.1.5.1 Nanotribology .................................................................... 188 8.1.5.2 Technical Denition of Nanotribology .............................. 188 8.1.5.3 Friction at the Nanometer Scale ......................................... 189
8.2 Literature Experimental Results ................................................................... 190 8.2.1 Nanotribology Measurement Tools .................................................. 190 8.2.2 Classication of Investigative Tools Used in
Nanotribological Studies .................................................................. 190 8.2.2.1 Surface Forces Apparatus .................................................. 191 8.2.2.2 Extended Surface Forces Apparatus .................................. 192 8.2.2.3 The Atomic Force Microscope, Lateral Force
Microscope, and Friction Force Microscope ..................... 194 8.2.2.4 Scanning Tunneling Microscope ....................................... 196
8.3 Nanolubrication ............................................................................................ 197 8.3.1 Nanolubrication Applications ........................................................... 198 8.3.2 IL Nanotribology .............................................................................. 199
Nanotribology, the study of friction, wear, adhesion, and lubrication at the nanometer scale is an interdisciplinary eld where the fundamental origins of tribological phenomena are explored. In this chapter, we briey review nanotribology denitions, and the advanced techniques used in the study of tribological problems at the nanoscale. In addition, progress in the improvement of lubrication toward control of friction and wear and the importance of nanotribology in advancing the science of tribology is presented. We also highlight the denition of ionic liquids (ILs) and the progress in the use of ILs to improve lubrication to control friction.
