Friction fighter

Lubricants made from liquid crystals similar to those used in flat-screen monitors could eliminate the effects of friction for many bearing and gear units, researchers claim.

A team at the

in Germany is studying the lubricant, and says it could be on the market within three years.

Unlike traditional lubricants, liquid crystals exhibit a phase matter between liquid and solid crystal. A liquid crystal may be able to flow like a liquid but it is made up of organic molecules oriented in a crystal-like way.

Most liquid crystal molecules are roughly cigar shaped and line up parallel to one another, pointing in the same direction. When applied, these molecules reduce the points of contact between rubbing parts.

This application is a friction-reducing technique similar to the one ancient Egyptians are believed to have used to move the huge blocks of stone when building the Great Pyramids. By using logs as rollers under the stones, the points of contact between the granite and the ground were limited, thus making the movement of large objects easier.