A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal

Bioinspired and Multifunctional Tribological Materials for Sliding, Erosive, Machining, and Energy-Absorbing Conditions : A Review




AuthorsKumar, Rahul; Rezapourian, Mansoureh; Rahmani, Ramin; Maurya, Himanshu S.; Kamboj, Nikhil; Hussainova, Irina

PublisherMPDI

Publication year2024

JournalBiomimetics

Journal name in sourceBiomimetics

Article number209

Volume9

Issue4

ISSN2313-7673

eISSN2313-7673

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9040209

Web address https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/9/4/209

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/387500311


Abstract
Friction, wear, and the consequent energy dissipation pose significant challenges in systems with moving components, spanning various domains, including nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS/MEMS) and bio-MEMS (microrobots), hip prostheses (biomaterials), offshore wind and hydro turbines, space vehicles, solar mirrors for photovoltaics, triboelectric generators, etc. Nature-inspired bionic surfaces offer valuable examples of effective texturing strategies, encompassing various geometric and topological approaches tailored to mitigate frictional effects and related functionalities in various scenarios. By employing biomimetic surface modifications, for example, roughness tailoring, multifunctionality of the system can be generated to efficiently reduce friction and wear, enhance load-bearing capacity, improve self-adaptiveness in different environments, improve chemical interactions, facilitate biological interactions, etc. However, the full potential of bioinspired texturing remains untapped due to the limited mechanistic understanding of functional aspects in tribological/biotribological settings. The current review extends to surface engineering and provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of bioinspired texturing that exhibits sustainable synergy between tribology and biology. The successful evolving examples from nature for surface/tribological solutions that can efficiently solve complex tribological problems in both dry and lubricated contact situations are comprehensively discussed. The review encompasses four major wear conditions: sliding, solid-particle erosion, machining or cutting, and impact (energy absorbing). Furthermore, it explores how topographies and their design parameters can provide tailored responses (multifunctionality) under specified tribological conditions. Additionally, an interdisciplinary perspective on the future potential of bioinspired materials and structures with enhanced wear resistance is presented.

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Last updated on 2025-11-02 at 10:58