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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
FEATURE ARTICLE
Varnish: Root causes, detection and remediation
(posted on March 15, 2023)
Despite advancements in terms of detection and remediation, the issue of varnish is not going away any time soon. So, the question is: What’s the best way to live with it? Regular oil analysis has always been critical for detecting build-up early, and now varnish removal technology is getting more effective. Read more >
LUBRICATION FUNDAMENTALS
What do HTHS and PSSI have to do with viscosity?
(posted on March 15, 2023)
Two more characteristics to understand about viscosity under fundamentals of lubrication are high temperature high shear (HTHS) and permanent shear stability index (PSSI). Understanding these characteristics is critical for OEMs to meet higher and higher fuel economy requirements and for you to make sure you choose the right oil to protect your engine from premature wear. Read more >
WEBINAR
Understanding and controlling water dilutable metal-removal fluid failure
(posted on March 15, 2023)
In machining of high precision parts, the dimensional variation of the cutting process is very critical. The demand for high quality and fully automated production places a lot of emphasis on the cutting process, which has a major contribution to part quality. Metalworking fluid (MWF) has been a key factor to machining performance and a key contributor to increase the effectiveness of machining systems. In this way, MWFs (i.e., metal-removal fluids) play an important role in minimizing production time, cost and energy in different machining operations. Maintaining and operating MWFs is a huge cost driver for the user.1 Understanding and controlling MWF failures can greatly reduce the volume of the MWF used and, thus, the overall machining cost of the site. Read more >
SCHOLARSHIP RESEARCH
Metal oxide tribofilms: Relating antiwear additive synergy with mechanical properties
(posted on March 15, 2023)
A reduction in gear and engine oil viscosity is a potential solution in the quest for a higher efficiency transportation sector, but lower viscosity oil requires advanced antiwear additives. Zirconia nanocrystals form tribofilms that inhibit wear and scuffing while behaving cooperatively with commercial antiwear additives, suggesting that the antiwear additives may be integrated in the tribofilm, affecting its properties. This work investigates the mechanical properties of zirconia tribofilms formed with various concentrations of a phosphorus-based additive. Phosphorus integration is determined by spatially resolved compositional characterization, and nanoindentation is used to determine the mechanical properties of the formed tribofilms. We report that phosphorus can be integrated in the tribofilm bulk without influencing the hardness or elastic modulus of the tribofilm. Read more >
PRESIDENT'S REPORT 
Rainbow grail (posted on March 15, 2023)
I restarted a guilty pleasure during the COVID-19 pandemic—collecting sports cards. It is hard to get solid marketing numbers on an industry that relies on so many cash transactions, but estimates put the total sports card collectibles market size between $5-15 billion per year. As with any hobby, sports cards collecting has its own jargon. The community of sports cards collectors refers to their fun as “the hobby.” To open a new box or pack of sports cards is to “rip,” and finding an interesting card is to “pull” a “hit.” By the way, a new box or unopened pack of cards is called “wax.” Some collectors focus on assembling full sets of all player cards each year. Others seek to own every color variation of a single player card, the collection of which is referred to as a “rainbow.” That one card you must locate, pursue and then obtain at all costs to complete a rainbow is a “grail” card. 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
Tribology and Lubrication for E-Mobility: Findings from the Inaugural STLE Conference on Electric Vehicles
The 2022 Tribology and Lubrication for E-Mobility White Paper summarizes key finding and challenges discussed at the inaugural STLE Electric Vehicles Conference held in San Antonio, Texas in November 2021. The conference included more than 20 speakers from leading companies and organizations with an interest in e-mobility. These speakers provided their unique perspectives in an effort to find common ground on the requirements for lubricants operating in EVs. 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 >