- Extended component service life
- Reduced friction and energy losses
- Reduced wear and particle emissions
Contact between surfaces in relative motion inevitably generates friction and wear, affecting the performance of virtually all mechanical systems. These mechanisms can cause material loss, increased temperatures, vibrations, and surface degradation, potentially leading to premature failures, increased maintenance requirements, and reduced equipment efficiency.
In sectors such as automotive, energy, mining, aerospace, and industrial equipment, improving wear resistance means developing components that are more durable, efficient, and reliable. In addition, new regulatory and environmental requirements, such as reducing particle emissions from braking systems, are creating new challenges in the design and validation of materials and friction systems.
AZTERLAN addresses these challenges by combining expertise in metallurgy, materials development, surface engineering, and tribological testing. We analyze the mechanisms responsible for component deterioration and develop and validate solutions tailored to real operating conditions.
Design, selection, and optimization of alloys, microstructures, and heat treatments to improve resistance to wear mechanisms such as abrasion, adhesion, erosion, and surface fatigue.
Evaluation of coatings, surface treatments, finishing conditions, and lubrication solutions to control friction and wear and improve the performance of contacting surfaces.
Analysis and optimization of the tribological performance of components and systems such as brakes, clutches, and transmissions, considering efficiency, stability, durability, and operating conditions.
Reproduction of demanding conditions involving load, speed, temperature, atmosphere, or lubrication to study the behavior of materials and components in scenarios representative of their intended application.
Evaluation and development of solutions aimed at reducing particle generation caused by wear, particularly in braking systems and in response to emerging regulatory requirements such as EURO 7.
AZTERLAN’s tribological expertise and capabilities enable us to address the challenges associated with new mobility systems, electrified components, and other applications where operating conditions (including load, speed, lubrication, and system behavior) are evolving.
AZTERLAN has highly versatile tribological testing infrastructure designed to reproduce complex operating conditions and real industrial scenarios. These capabilities provide detailed information on the tribological behavior of materials and systems under demanding conditions.
Our testing capabilities cover a wide range of conditions, including:
- High and controlled loads, speeds, and torques
- Extreme temperatures and controlled atmospheres
- Testing with and without lubrication under different contact regimes
- Evaluation of wear, friction, and material transfer mechanisms
- Testing of actual components in functional configurations
- High-resolution three-dimensional surface analysis
«Our work is aimed at mastering the physics and the chemistry that govern the behavior of metallic alloys, the phenomena that take place during manufacturing processes and the conditions that affect the useful life of metallic components.
We rethink metallurgy to develop more effective, efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes that favor the manufacture of components with enhanced properties and that open up new fields of application».
