ILMA Compoundings – October 2019 - 56

IN NETWORK

Cross Connections
STLE Anniversary
Spotlights Tribology
Innovations
By Ed Salek

he Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers
(STLE) is celebrating 75 years as the organization representing scientists and engineers involved in the tribology
and lubricants business sector. While we're proud of our heritage, the focus for the project is on the people and innovations
that have fostered progress in every sort of mechanical system
- from engines in our cars to joints in our bodies.
To support this project, a team of industry volunteers is
compiling a fascinating tribology and lubricants timeline
that will be exhibited at the 75th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 3-7. Research is still underway, but
here's an early look at a portion of what will be highlighted.
Some of the events predate the founding of STLE (then
known as ASLE) in March 1944. A good example from that
category is the Stribeck curve, which was first described in
late 1901 and is one of the fundamental concepts in the
field of tribology. The Stribeck curve defines the effect that
changes in load, viscosity and speed have on friction. It is
named for the German engineer Richard Stribeck.
Another example dates to 1898, when Henry Timken
was awarded a patent for the tapered roller bearing, which
has become one of the most widely used industrial products
in the world. This patent created the foundation for the
bearing company that still carries his name.
Equally important, in 1907, Sven Wingqvist patented a
multi-row self-aligning bearing. This created the foundation
for SKF, a global bearing and seal manufacturer founded in
Wingqvist's home country of Sweden.
The 1940s saw the introduction of polyalkylene glycol, or
PAG, oils, among the first synthetic lubricants to be developed and commercialized. They were created under mandate
from the U.S. Navy in response to hydraulic fluid fires on
ships resulting from ordnance strikes during World War II.
A familiar product born in the 1950s was what's now
known as WD-40. It was developed in 1953 as a rust
prevention solvent and degreaser in a small San Diego lab by
Rocket Chemical Co. Five years later, in 1958, the product
was introduced to the public as WD-40.
In June 1955, the first patents on polyurea grease were issued
to a team working at what was known at the time as Standard

OCTOBER 2019

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Oil of Indiana and is today part of BP. Polyurea greases have
become a preferred choice for filled-for-life applications in
bearings and are important in steel plants and electric motors.
In the early 1960s, tribology began to merge with
medicine through the work of Sir John Charnley. He was a
British orthopedic surgeon who pioneered the hip replacement operation. It was a rarity at the time but is now one of
the most common medical procedures in the world.
When the timeline moves into the 1970s, two of the most
well-known consumer products make their appearance. The
Jiffy Lube fast oil change business debuted in 1971 and has
been a part of Shell since 2002. Three years later, in 1974,
Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil was first sold.
In late 1985, the first patent for high-performance calcium
sulfonate complex grease was issued to researchers at what was
then Witco Corp. (now part of LANXESS Canada).
A noteworthy development in the 21st century has been
the introduction of metallocene polyalphaolefins, or mPAOs,
by a variety of companies. These synthetic lubricants target a
variety of automotive and industrial applications, including
gear oils, greases and automotive lubricants.
Because the timeline is still under development, ILMA
members are invited to contribute their recommendations
for other noteworthy events, inventions or products by
sending an email with details to me (esalek@stle.org) by no
later than Dec. 31.
While history is important, what might be coming next
is also critical. STLE's Report on Emerging Issues and Trends
in Tribology and Lubrication Engineering, informally known
as the Trends Report, has gained a reputation for identifying
current and future developments in the field since it was
first published in 2014.
Work is underway on a third edition of the Trends Report,
with a target release date of early 2020. It builds on the
previous trends and conclusions but also has been refocused
and reorganized to reflect the rapid pace of change affecting all
areas of relevant technology. As a result, the 2020 report has
consolidated application sectors into four high-interest topics:
transportation, medical and health, energy and manufacturing.
The latest research has identified more than 140 trends
for consideration in these four sectors. Transportation
yielded the highest number (57), with considerable interest
surrounding not only the implications and opportunities
presented by electric and self-driving vehicles, but also
developments in internal combustion engines.
Salek is executive director of STLE.

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ILMA Compoundings – October 2019

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