SiToLub

About the project

The SiToLub project is dedicated to creating a groundbreaking digital platform aimed at fostering Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles for the development of new lubricants. In the project innovative tools will be developed within the SiToLub platform, offering comprehensive assessments focusing on safety considerations (human toxicity, environmental impact. The platform’s primary goal is to deliver a holistic approach, integrating foreseeable physico-chemical properties and tribological performance metrics in a clear and accessible manner.

Background

Enhancing friction and wear within tribological applications by employing sustainable lubricants shows immense potential for curbing global carbon dioxide emissions, cutting costs, while prioritizing environmental and human safety throughout their life cycle. However, it became apparent that adhering to safe and SSbD criteria while maintaining the performance of high-performance materials had not been intensively considered during the research and development phase until now. By integrating safety assessments using molecular dynamic models developed by project partners, alongside tribological models predicting energy consumption, friction forces, material durability, and fluid degradation, this initiative aims to revolutionize the way lubricants are designed. The project’s adaptability across various applications, such as wind turbines, electric cars, and waterborne systems, highlights its potential to drive innovation across multiple industries using SSbD principles.