title: Nanotribological Investigations of Different Materials and Protective Films.
reg no: ETF5015
project type: Estonian Science Foundation research grant
subject: 2.2. Materials Science
status: completed
institution: Institute of Physics at University of Tartu
head of project: Ants Lõhmus
duration: 01.01.2002 - 31.12.2005
description: Research and development in many industries depends critically on knowledge about physical and chemical properties of materials including phenomena occurring when materials come into contact with each other. Main purpose of the present project is experimental investigation and theoretical modeling of friction phenomena on molecular level e.g. nanotribology of various substances. The nature of surface contacts are going to be investigated using original scanning probe microscopes (SPM) which is capable of measuring forces between different nanocontacts, their relative movement and real-time visualizing of nanoscopic processes.
Our main goals are:
1. Experimantal discovery of exact mechanisms causing the friction on nanoscopic level and molecular dynamic modeling of responsible processes.
2. Investigate wear and friction phenomena of industrial multi-phase surface protection materials on micro- and nanoscopic levels using SPM methods.
3. Synthesis of a new transparent and conductive fiber optical material based on SnO2 which could combine tunneling and near-field microscope techniques when used in microscope tips.
4. Cooperation between universities in Tartu and Tallinn will significantly improve the training of specialists working in the field of nanotechnology and will benefit also the graduate and undergraduate education.

project group
no name institution position  
1.Irina HussainovaTTU IMTsenior researcher 
2.Ilmar KinkUT IPpost.doc. 
3.Rein KinkUT IPhead of lab. 
4.Ants LõhmusInstitute of Physics, University of Tartusenior researcher 
5.Rünno LõhmusUT IPresearcher 
6.Uno MäeorgUT IOBCdoc. 
7.Ilmo SildosUT IPhead of lab. 
8.Mart ViljusTTU CMRresearcher