Purpose

This paper aims to present a comprehensive perspective on how tribology and sustainability are related and intertwined and are linked to CO₂ emissions. This paper emphasizes on how tribological aspects affect everybody’s life and how tribological research and progress can improve energy efficiency, sustainability and quality of life.

Design/methodology/approach

Based upon available data and predictions for the next 50 years, the potential of tribological research and development is addressed.

Findings

The effects of tribological design can significantly increase energy savings and reduce CO₂ emissions. Taking advantage of tribological technologies and applying them to current infrastructure would have the largest energy savings coming from the transportation and power generation at 25% and 20%, respectively. Implementing these technologies can also cut down global CO₂ emissions by about 1,460 megatons of CO₂ per year in the immediate future and 3,140 megatons of CO₂ per year in the long term. The extraction and processing of resources inevitably generates CO₂. Doubling the lifetime of machine components and the use of circular economy reduces the material footprint with associated reductions in CO₂.

Originality/value

This perspective summarizes concisely the interrelation of tribology and sustainability with CO₂.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-09-2020-0356/

中文翻译：

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摩擦学满足可持续性

目的

本文旨在就摩擦学与可持续性如何相互关联，相互纠缠以及如何与CO ₂排放联系起来，提出一个全面的观点。本文着重于摩擦学方面如何影响每个人的生活，以及摩擦学的研究和进步如何改善能源效率，可持续性和生活质量。

设计/方法/方法

根据现有的数据和对未来50年的预测，研究了摩擦学研究和开发的潜力。

发现

摩擦学设计的效果可以显着提高节能效果并减少CO ₂排放。利用摩擦学技术并将其应用到当前的基础设施中，运输和发电所节省的能源最多，分别为25％和20％。实施这些技术还可以减少全球二氧化碳₂的排放约1460百万吨的CO ₂，每年在不久的将来和3,140百万吨的CO ₂，每年在长远。资源的提取和加工不可避免地会产生CO ₂。机械零件的使用寿命加倍，循环经济的使用减少了材料占地面积，并相应减少了二氧化碳₂。

创意/价值

该观点简明扼要地总结了摩擦学和可持续性与CO ₂的相互关系。

同行评审

本文的同行评审历史记录可在以下网址获得：https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-09-2020-0356/