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Talks and Poster Presentations (with Proceedings-Entry):

I. Gebeshuber, H. Stachelberger, M. Drack, F. Franek:
"Biotribology at the Micro- and Nanoscale as Exemplified by Diatoms";
Talk: 1st Vienna International Conference on Micro- and Nano-Technology - Viennano'05, Vienna, Austria; 03-09-2005 - 03-11-2005; in: "1st Vienna International Conference on Micro- and Nano-Technology - Proceedings", Österreichische Tribologische Gesellschaft, Wien (2005), ISBN: 3-901657-17-7; 135 - 140.



English abstract:
Systems with parts in relative motion experience friction and wear. The need to understand tribology on the micro- and
nanoscale increases in importance with decreasing technological device sizes. Micro- and nanoelectromechanical
systems often experience failure due to stiction (static friction).
During millions of years of evolution, natural systems have optimized their tribological and other performances. The
aim of biotribology is to gather information about friction, adhesion, lubrication and wear of biological friction systems
and to apply this knowledge to innovate technology, with the additional benefit of environmental soundness. Examples
for biological friction systems at different length scales are bacterial flagellae, joints and articular cartilage as well as
muscle connective tissues.
Our model system for biotribological investigations at the micro- and nanoscale are diatoms. Diatoms are single celled
microalgae with a cell wall consisting of amorphous glass enveloped by an organic layer. Diatoms are small, highly
reproductive, and accessible with different kinds of microscopy methods. There are several diatom species which
actively move (e.g. Bacillaria paxillifer forms colonies of 5 to 30 cells which rhythmically expand and contract) or
which can - as cell colonies - reversibly be elongated by a major fraction of their original length (e.g. Ellerbeckia
arenaria). Diatoms also seem to show highly efficient self lubrication while cells divide and grow.
These algae might provide lubrication strategies which are still unknown to engineers!

Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.