Friction: from Leonardo da Vinci to modern nanotechnologies

Abstract

The review paper presents an outstanding contribution of Leonardo da Vinci to the science of friction, which is the heart of modern nanotechnologies. It demonstrates a significant role of nanocrystalline friction structures (NCFS) in the formation of the tribological properties of metal alloys and in the implementation of deformation-induced nanostructuring techniques for metal alloy surface processing. Inherent in the very nature of friction, the ability to obtain an NCFS can be effectively used for targeted nanostructuring of product surface layers in order to increase their resistance to wear, corrosion, mechanical loads, and high temperatures. This can be achieved by using simple frictional and ultrasonic impact-frictional surface treatments, as well as combined methods based on the chemical modification of the formed NCFS. It is proposed to use nanostructuring frictional pretreatment and the industrial technology of nanostructuring burnishing in combined methods for surface preparation of structural stainless steels, including those produced by additive laser technology, for applying high-strength nanocomposite thin-film coatings.