Tribological Application in China and Green Tribology

A recent investigation of the industrial application of tribology in China is aimed at finding out the current situation of industrial activities of tribology and proposing some recommendations. Representative industries were investigated, namely metallurgical, energy and petrochemical, railway, transport and automotive, agriculture machinery, shipping, aerospace and military equipment. It was found that with the application of tribology, the sum total of the estimated potential savings of the first six investigated industries is 103.61 hundred million USD (Nov 2006 exchange rates) per year. Based on this figure and extrapolation of Chinese 2006 statistical data, all industrial enterprises in China can save 41,480 million US dollars per year, i.e. 1.55% of the gross national product (GNP) in 2006. A survey of 236 universities was made to investigate the present situation in tribological education and research. Recommendations on industrial application, research and education were made to government highlighting green tribology for ecological balance and sustained development. The definition, object and research contents of green tribology are introduced.