Friction, wear and corrosion: learning from nature

Friction, wear and corrosion play a central role in diverse systems and phenomena that at first sight may seem unrelated. On closer scrutiny, however, bio-system phenomena such as the lotus leaf effect (hydrophobicity) and surface passivation are found to display common features that are shared by many tribological processes in technological (manufacturing and automotive) and geological (drilling and mining) applications. Through the process of natural selection, nature has produced surface textures and water-based lubricant systems that far outclass the best oil-based lubricants of most man-made devices. To emulate these systems is one of today’s great challenges.