This document outlines a tribology course offered at the National Polytechnic Experimental University Antonio José de Sucre (UNEXPO) in Venezuela. The course introduces fundamental tribology concepts like friction, wear, and lubrication. It aims to teach students how to define tribology terms, identify different types of wear, analyze lubricants, and determine lubricant properties. The course methodology includes lectures, practical examples, standards, and potential industrial plant visits. It is divided into six units covering topics such as maintenance, surface properties, friction laws, wear of metals, lubrication principles, and lubricant properties/analysis. Labs focus on measuring viscosity, flashpoint, water content, and color of lubricating oils.

1. BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA
National Polytechnic Experimental University Antonio José de Sucre (UNEXPO)
VICE – RECTORADO BARQUISIMETO
DEPARMENT SECTION
Mechanical Engineering DESIGN
SUBJECT FG FB FP PP
TRIBOLOGY X
AREA OF BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
P x I M x C x O x D
FOUNDATION / Applications / IMPORTANCE
Include three variables: friction, wear and lubrication, which are of vital importance in the teams that are
part of a production system to reduce energy consumption.
OBJECTIVES
After completing this course, students should be able to:
Define the fundamental concepts of Tribology
Know and identify different types of wear exist
Identify the lubricant analysis as a predictive maintenance technique.
Determined by laboratory analysis, characteristics of lubricants
Establish the most important properties of lubricants according to usage
Know the various forms of lubrication
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Theoretical classes in the classroom with the use of the board and the projection of transparencies.
Using practical examples that reflect industrial level seen in the lectures.
Using national and international standards as regards the analysis of lubricants.
Visit Industrial plants as a complement.
SCHEDULE
UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION. MAINTENANCE. TRIBOLOGY.
CONTENT: Maintenance. Types of maintenance. Frequency of maintenance. Curve failure rate - time.
Cost optimization curve. Maintenance parameters.
Predictive maintenance. Predictive maintenance techniques. Fundamentals of tribology.
Variables of a tribological system.
UNIT # 2: PROPERTIES OF SURFACES. FRICTION.
CONTENT: Areas. Surface irregularities. Topography of a surface. Friction.
Laws of friction. Accession.
UNIT # 3: WEAR OF METALS.
CONTENT: Types. Material Behavior
UNIT # 4: PRINCIPLES OF LUBRICATION.
CONTENTS: Basic Principles. Factors affecting lubrication. Lubrication regimes.
Lubrication methods.

2. UNIT # 5: PROPERTIES OF LUBRICANTS.
CONTENT: Types. Properties. Viscosity. Viscosity conversion tables. Systems of
viscosity classification. Basestocks. Additives. Fat. Properties. Lubricants synthetic
UNIT # 6: ANALYSIS OF LABORATORY FOR LUBRICATING OILS.
CONTENT: Types of oils that are analyzed. Physical –Chemicals Analysis. Properties. Tests.
ASTM standards.
LABORATORY PRACTICE
Viscosity
Flashpoint
Determination of water and sediment in oils
Colorímetro.