Wear state evaluation of friction pairs on the basis of triboelectrification behaviour: Research status and potential challenges

Wear, which is the primary failure mode of mechanical equipment, significantly impacts the reliability and service lifespan of such equipment. Hence, real-time monitoring of the equipment wear state is highly important. While existing technologies have achieved substantial advancements in evaluating the wear state of tribo-systems, the pursuit of novel monitoring technologies persists, aiming to capture wear process information that remains inaccessible to traditional methods. Triboelectrification, a tribological phenomenon that is highly sensitive to changes in interfacial properties, has distinct advantages and is anticipated to emerge as a novel approach for evaluating the wear state. In this paper, the measurement methods, mechanisms, influencing factors, and signal processing of triboelectrification are summarized systematically. This article aims to consolidate research findings on triboelectrification across different domains within the framework of wear state monitoring and offer valuable guidance for effective, scientific wear state evaluation via triboelectrification. Through this comprehensive examination, the paper not only underscores the unique value and potential of triboelectrification in wear monitoring but also presents fresh insights and ideas for researchers in related fields.