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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 27: Tribology
O 27.6: Vortrag
Dienstag, 19. März 2024, 11:45–12:00, MA 144
Analyzing the tribological combination of microstructure and lubricant in beetle joints — •Cornelia Friederike Pichler1, Richard Thelen1, Matthias Mail2, Thomas van de Kamp3, and Hendrik Hölscher1 — 1Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany — 2Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany — 3Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
In order to gain inspiration for the development of environmentally friendly lubricants, we characterize the sophisticated friction-reducing system found in the joints of beetles. By combining microstructures with a lubricating substance, beetles optimize friction in their joints. We aim to research both the lubricant and the microstructure of the joints to gain inspiration for a degradable (and hopefully superior) alternative to mineral-oil-based lubricants. However, restrained by the tiny quantities of the beetle's lubricant and the compactness of their joints, the analysis is challenging. We, therefore, apply atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image topographical features of the joints and the frictional properties of the lubricating substance. Furthermore, we develop an artificial surface mimicking the beetle's microstructures and determine its frictional properties utilizing colloidal probes. Finally, we discovered the origin of the lubricant leaking through pores into the beetle's joint with focused ion beam (FIB) tomography.
Keywords: Entomology; Microstructures; Tribology; Biomimetics