Since last year, Tribonex is part of a project called Advanced Surface Functionalization for Machinery Enhanced Lifetime (Fun4MEL). The aim of the project is to investigate how surface functionalization can contribute to enhanced circular manufacturing.
In a tribological contact, the manufacturing method fingerprint strongly affects how friction, temperature and wear progress over time. Compared to conventional manufacturing practices, surface functionalization can help reduce power losses and extend the service life of components, improving resource effectiveness. The environmental footprint can be reduced even further by refurbishing or remanufacturing as alternatives to scrapping parts or recycling materials. Therefore, we believe that surface functionalization will play a huge role in the transformation towards a more circular industry.
During the spring of 2025, a master’s degree project is carried out at Scania, focusing on the impact of surface functionalization methods on friction behavior of axial thrust washers, where Triboconditioning® will be evaluated as one of the candidates. This master’s degree project aims to study how different surface treatments, such as texturing, coatings, and finishing methods, affect the friction behavior of parallel rotating thrust washers. The research will use a tribometer machine to measure friction coefficients and wear mechanisms at various rotating speeds. The goal is to understand how these surface functionalization methods can reduce friction and wear, ultimately extending the lifespan of components in electric trucks.
The Fun4MEL project funded by Vinnova under the Strategic Vehicle Research and Innovation program (FFI).
