tribology

Tribology is the science and engineering of understanding friction, lubrication and wear phenomena for interacting surfaces in relative motion. It is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on many academic fields, including physics, chemistry, materials science, mathematics, biology and engineering. The fundamental objects of study in tribology are tribosystems, which are physical systems of contacting surfaces. Subfields of tribology include biotribology, nanotribology and space tribology. It is also related to other areas such as the coupling of corrosion and tribology in tribocorrosion and the contact mechanics of how surfaces in contact deform. Approximately 20% of the world's energy (2012) is consumed by friction and wear in the transportation, manufacturing, power generation, and residential sectors.

== Etymology == The word tribology derives from the Greek root τριβ- of the verb , tribo, "I rub" in classic Greek, and the suffix -logy from , -logia "study of", "knowledge of". Peter Jost coined the word in 1966, in the eponymous report which highlighted the cost of friction, wear and corrosion to the UK economy.