Tribological surface and lapping method and system therefor

A method of operating a tribological system comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a workpiece having a tribological working surface, said working surface including:
• (i) a metal surface layer;
• (ii) a plurality of organic particles incorporated in said metal surface layer, and
• (iii) a plurality of inorganic particles incorporated in said working surface, said inorganic particles having a Mohs hardness of at least 8;
• (b) providing a counter-surface disposed opposite said working surface;
• (c) disposing a lubricant between said working surface and said counter-surface;
• (d) providing at least one mechanism, associated with at least one of the working surface and said second surface, for applying a relative motion between said surfaces, and for exerting a load on said surfaces, said surfaces, said lubricant, and said at least one mechanism forming the tribological system;
• (e) exerting said load between said working surface and said counter-surface, and
• (f) applying a relative motion between said working surface and said counter-surface,
• wherein said organic particles and said inorganic particles have a combined coverage density of at least 0.5%.

A method of operating a tribological system comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a workpiece having a tribological working surface, said working surface including:
• (i) a metal surface layer;
• (ii) a plurality of inorganic particles incorporated in said working surface, said inorganic particles having a Mohs hardness of at least 8;
• (b) providing a counter-surface disposed opposite said working surface;
• (c) disposing a lubricant between said working surface and said counter-surface;
• (d) providing at least one mechanism, associated with at least one of the working surface and said second surface, for applying a relative motion between said surfaces, and for exerting a load on said surfaces, said surfaces, said lubricant, and said at least one mechanism forming the tribological system;
• (e) exerting said load between said working surface and said counter-surface, and
• (f) applying a relative motion between said working surface and said counter-surface,
• wherein said inorganic particles have a population density of at least 10,000 particles per square millimeter.