Surface Engineering and Tribology - About

Vision

Advance scientific understanding and materials development for critical chemomechanical interfaces for energy efficiency and sustainability 

Mission

Innovate and develop coating, fluid, colloid, and nanomaterial technologies for enhanced wear/corrosion protection and thermal management in various transportation, energy, and national security applications

R&D Scope

The Surface Engineering and Tribology Group conducts world-leading research and development addressing wear, corrosion, and thermal issues using advanced materials solutions. Our current interests include development of high-performance coatings for thermal and friction management; eco-friendly lubricating and heat-transfer fluids; and functionalized nanomaterials. Engaging in extensive collaborations with industry and academia, the group is making significant impact on the nation’s energy and national security. The diverse research portfolio is sponsored by various U.S. Department of Energy offices, including Vehicle Technologies, Bioenergy Technologies, Waterpower Technologies, Solar Energy Technologies, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies, and Nuclear Energy, as well as other federal funding agencies such as the Department of the Treasury, along with industry.

Core Competencies

Tribology and Lubrication

  • Tribosystem analysis for failure modes and wear mechanisms based on contact mechanics and lubrication modeling and materials characterization
  • Eco-friendly, high-efficiency lubricant and heat-transfer fluid technologies, e.g., ionic liquids and organic-modified nanoparticles as lubricant additives
  • Wear-resistant and friction-reducing coatings and surface treatments, e.g., superlubricity coating, diffusion-based case hardening, surface nanocompositing, and additive manufacturing (in collaboration with ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility)
  • ASTM standard and customized tribological testing under various wear modes for broad applications including harsh conditions involving high temperatures, vacuum and controlled gas environments, and corrosive chemicals
  • Surface characterization, including topography, roughness, hardness, surface energy, and tribofilm morphology, microstructure, and composition
  • Lubricant analysis, including rheology, wetting, TGA and FTIR

Nanomaterials

  • Carbon, ceramic, metallic, and organometallic nanoparticles/nanotubes/nanowires by CVD, organic synthesis, and electrochemical processes
  • Functionalization of nanomaterials by organic surface modifications
  • Nanomaterials and nanostructures characterization

Liquid Corrosion 

  • Aqueous, fluid, sol, and gel corrosion on metallic alloys
  • Electrochemical evaluation of atmospheric and marine corrosion
  • Corrosion of structural and coating materials in nuclear and renewable energy systems

Machining and Metrology

  • Machining technologies for sample preparation including wire EDM, drill press, lathe, bandsaw, etc.
  • Multi-scale topography and surface roughness measurements including stylus profiler and white-light interferometer
  • Multi-scale, temperature-controlled hardness measurements from industrial Rockwell, Vickers and Knoop microindentation to nanoindentation