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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 August TLT - Digital Edition | TLT Archives

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

FEATURE ARTICLE
Bearing and gearbox failures: Challenges to wind turbine
(posted on July 20, 2020)
With ever increasing energy requirements, the energy sector is seeing an unparalleled growth in renewable energy production, with wind energy in the lead. Land-based, utility-scale wind farms offer the lowest priced energy source currently available at between two to six cents per kilowatt-hour. Read more >

LUBRICATION FUNDAMENTALS
Wet friction materials (posted on July 20, 2020)
Friction materials that operate in fluid media are called wet friction materials (WFMs). WFM is a compressible, porous and permeable material that operates in oil and transfers torque to and from metal plates that are in contact with the wet friction plates. When a wet clutch engages, kinetic energy is converted into frictional heat that must be tolerated by the WFM and absorbed primarily by the metal and oil. Read more >

SOLID LUBRICANTS
Solid lubricants for the aerospace industry (posted on July 20, 2020)
Spacecraft systems might be many thousands of miles from the nearest repair technician, so the mechanical parts must operate as intended for the duration of the mission. “If it doesn’t work, that’s the end of the mission, so it has to release very cleanly,” says STLE-member Dr. Jeff Lince, principal at Space Tribology Consulting in Culver City, Calif., referring to satellite release and deployment mechanisms. These mechanisms must hold their sensors, antennas and solar arrays very securely during launch and then release them smoothly and accurately when the satellite reaches orbit. Thus, the success of an entire mission can rest on a thin film of solid lubricant. Read more >

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Making the transition to ILSAC GF-6 (posted on July 20, 2020)

I started my formal working career at the age of 16 at a large national automotive hardware and sporting goods store, working part time while going to high school. One of my first responsibilities was maintaining and stocking the shelves in the automotive section of the store and, in particular, the old engine oil cans. 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

News

STLE 2021 Annual Meeting Abstract Site Open
(July 22, 2020)

The abstract submission site for the 2021 STLE Annual Meeting and Exhibition is now open. We invite you t 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.

Meet STLE's New Fellows
(June 30, 2020)

Only 184 individuals currently hold the membership grade of Fellow, which recognizes STLE members who have made a significant impact in the field of tribology and/or lubrication engineering. Click here to continue reading.

P.M. Ku Award Recipient - Dr. Martin Webster
(June 17, 2020)

Dr. Martin N. Webster is the 41st recipient of the STLE P.M. Ku Award, which recognizes outstanding and selfless achievements for the Society. It is given to the STLE member who most typifies the dedicated spirit of former President P.M. Ku, who worked tirelessly to promote and advance the mission of STLE. After serving on a variety of technical and administrative committees, Webster was elected to the Board of Directors in 2006, served as STLE President in 2015-16 and was named an STLE Fellow in 2019. He is a senior research associate at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering in Annandale, NJ (USA) and has been a member for 30 years. Click here to continue reading.

2020 STLE International Award Recipient - Dr. Ali Erdemir
(June 17, 2020)

Over the past three decades, Dr. Erdemir has established himself as a pioneering and distinguished scientist in materials science, surface engineering, tribology and related disciplines. His dedicated and multidisciplinary research has resulted in several key discoveries for which many awards, honors, and patents have been bestowed. This year STLE honors Dr. Ali Erdemir with the society’s highest technical award, The International Award. Click here to continue reading.

TFC 2020 is going Virtual
Still accepting abstracts for the wait list
(May 5, 2020)

Join tribology researchers from around the world for the 2020 TFC to be held on Nov. 9-13, Online at www.stle.org. We invite authors to submit abstracts for consideration as oral or poster presentations. For more information and to submit an abstract visit. www.stle.org/tribologyfrontiers.

Upcoming Events

Next Generation Driveline Lubricants for HEV/EVs
Live Webinar Event on August 18 at 12pm CT

Science Friction - The Tribology of Grease
NLGI Virtual Technical Week August 24 - 26