Various scientific initiatives focus on examining how surfaces interact within each other and their environment and how these interactions influence their functionalities. Some properties such as adhesion, hardness, surface energy and electrical conductivity are influenced by the contact parameters between two surfaces and the surrounding environment. Tribology is the discipline concerned with analyzing the friction and wear characteristics of surfaces that interact and move relative to each other. Wear, friction, and Lubrication are the main phenomena in tribological operations, and they are commonly studied to increase the efficiency, durability, and lifespan of components in mechanical systems.

Tribological phenomena—such as wear, friction, and lubrication—occur in a wide range of both biological and technological contexts. In the human body, these processes are evident during everyday activities like walking, where the surfaces of joints interact; while watching, as eyelids move across the eye’s surface; and during chewing, which involves the movement of teeth and jaw surfaces against each other.

Beyond biological systems, tribological effects are also observed in mechanical and engineering applications. For instance, the rolling of wheels involves surface interactions that affect efficiency and durability. Similarly, the deployment of communications antennas relies on the movement and contact of surfaces to ensure proper function. In aerospace, tribological phenomena play a critical role during the landing operations of spacecraft, where the surfaces involved must withstand significant friction and wear to ensure safe and reliable performance.

This Symposium aims to cover the most relevant aspects of sciences that study, modify and apply the contact phenomena between two surfaces and their relationship with their work environment, focusing on some areas as for example: