Discover the benefits of STLE membership

Join now and engage with those employed by the world's leading corporations, academic institutions, and governmental agencies. STLE supports our members with a variety of technical, educational, and professional development resources and programs.

STLE Membership is a Low-Cost Investment with High Professional Rewards
The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) is a professional technical society providing a selection of robust resources in technical research, education and professional development delivered through programming, courses, events and periodicals on topics most important to you: safety, energy usage, maintenance, natural resources, wear and productivity. 

Membership is available to those interested in staying current in the latest technologies, advancing their careers and making new professional connections from around the world.

What is tribology?

Tribology is the study of science and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It includes the study and application of the principles of friction, lubrication and wear. Tribology is a branch of mechanical engineering and materials science.

Tribology’s economic and commercial impact is vast. The science reduces energy use, lowers the cost of maintenance and replacement, develops new technology, and solves resource problems, such as the lack of clean water. Proper tribological procedures save an estimated 1.3% to 1.6% of a nation’s gross domestic product—a savings of hundreds of billions of dollars (U.S. currency) in larger countries. Virtually every nation has realized it cannot afford to overlook the economic, industrial, and commercial advantages of tribology. Consequently, tribology is a science that is constantly being advanced by thousands of researchers around the world. Lubrication engineering is the practical application of that science, generally in the development of lubricants and their proper usage and maintenance. Click here to learn more about tribology.


Online webinars, education courses and professional certification programs offer opportunities for continuing education to enhance your career and create value for your company.
STLE organizes, supports, co-sponsors and hosts meetings to provide the tribology and lubrication communities an opportunity to network, exchange ideas and information.


Educating technical professionals to compete in the global business environment is STLE's core mission of serving as a trusted provider of education and a workforce development partner.


STLE honors its 75th anniversary with a year of celebration. we begin with a salute to our founding fathers - a group of people who embody the spirit of volunteerism.

Check out what's inside the December TLT - Digital Edition | TLT Archives

18th Annual CMF Plus
Some of the industry's most innovative companies release key presentations from 2020 Commercial Marketing Forum Webinars. Read more>

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

FEATURE ARTICLE
Biodegradable lubricants: Working definitions, review of key applications and prospects for growth
(posted on November 16, 2020)
Terms such as “environmentally acceptable” have been used to categorize biodegradability. This has led to confusion in defining the concept of biodegradability. With the growing use of environmentally friendly lubricants and the increasing awareness of sustainability, as discussed in the STLE 2020 Report on Emerging Issues and Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering, there is need for providing some clarification about how to determine if a specific lubricant is, in fact, biodegradable. Read more >
BIOTRIBOLOGY
The rapidly expanding field of biotribology (posted on November 16, 2020)
Biotribology affects the lives of everyone every day whether they know it or not—from blisters to contact lenses, facial moisturizer, toothpaste and digital devices. Relatively recently, the development of touchscreen technology has highlighted the importance of haptic1 feedback driven by friction in the screen/finger interface. Research into these and many more areas furthers the understanding of lubrication and wear in general. Read more >
GREASE
Grease flow (posted on November 16, 2020)
Rugged engineering is typically geared toward conditions like extreme heat, f lying debris or water exposure, but cold weather provides its own suite of design challenges. As temperatures drop, the same physical properties that make lubricants ideal for a particular application can become dangerous vulnerabilities in the system. Read more >
PRESIDENT'S REPORT 
STLE Learning Pathways (posted on November 16, 2020)
Of all the committees, projects, activities and initiatives that I have been involved with during my 30 years of service to STLE, I think the one I am most proud of was the project that led to the development of the STLE Learning Pathways. Read more >
STLE EDUCATION
Personalize Your Education. Advance Your Career
STLE Learning Pathways is a new online resource library for lubrication industry professionals to help identify, align and target their education and career development needs with access to technical articles, courses, webinars and books that will help them better serve their customers and employers. Learn more >
WHITE PAPERS & SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS 
2020 Report on Emerging Issues and Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering
STLE’s 2020 Report on Emerging Issues and Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering builds on a multiphase research effort to evaluate current trends and predict future developments impacting the field of tribology andlubrication engineering that was published in the first two Emerging Trends reports in 2014 and 2017. Based on input from technical experts around the world, the triennial Emerging Trends Report includes a look into more recent advances and topics that have surfaced in the latest publication. Order your copy >


Tribology Opportunities for Enhancing America's Energy Efficiency 
The Tribology Opportunities for Enhancing America's Energy Efficiency Report, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), summarizes the results from a workshop STLE hosted at the 2016 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. The purpose of the workshop was to explore opportunities in advanced tribological science and engineering of energy technologies across a wide range of practical application sectors. You'll find the results of these efforts in the report. Order your copy >

Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report

The Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report evaluates the impact of changes in industry, technology and the economy on the field. The 20-page report is based on a year-long study of nearly 1,000 industry experts surveyed with the goal of tapping into their collective wisdom and insight and drawing conclusions about the future of tribology and lubrication engineering. 
Order your free copy >

Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report

The Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report evaluates the impact of changes in industry, technology and the economy on the field. The 20-page report is based on a year-long study of nearly 1,000 industry experts surveyed with the goal of tapping into their collective wisdom and insight and drawing conclusions about the future of tribology and lubrication engineering. 
Order your free copy >

Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report

The Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report evaluates the impact of changes in industry, technology and the economy on the field. The 20-page report is based on a year-long study of nearly 1,000 industry experts surveyed with the goal of tapping into their collective wisdom and insight and drawing conclusions about the future of tribology and lubrication engineering. 
Order your free copy >

Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report

The Trends in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering: Industry Leader Predictions Report evaluates the impact of changes in industry, technology and the economy on the field. The 20-page report is based on a year-long study of nearly 1,000 industry experts surveyed with the goal of tapping into their collective wisdom and insight and drawing conclusions about the future of tribology and lubrication engineering. 
Order your free copy >

 









News

STLE Cautions Exhibitors About Unauthorized Attendee Lists
(November 18, 2020)

STLE has been made aware of a third-party offering 2020 Annual Meeting Pre-Registered Attendee Lists to companies that have exhibited with STLE. Please be advised this firm is not associated with STLE nor has STLE authorized them or any other company to contact exhibition participants. It is a scam. If you are contacted by this firm or any other offering attendee lists, please proceed with extreme caution. STLE does not sell or distribute lists to outside organizations. 

STLE 2021 Annual Meeting Abstract Site will Remain Open for the waitlist
(November 2, 2020)

The abstract submission deadline for the 2021 STLE Annual Meeting and Exhibition has passed. The site will remain open to collect abstracts for the waitlist. We invite you to present your latest research at STLE's 75th Anniversary Meeting May 16 - 20, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. Visit www.stle.org/annualmeeting for more details and to submit an abstract.

STLE Featured Videos