Tribological system

Abstract

A tribological system includes a tribological contact area including a first tribological contact surface of a first mechanical component and a second tribological contact surface of a second mechanical component, the first and second mechanical components being in relative motion with respect to each other; an external circuit connected to the first and second mechanical components and providing Joule heating; and an additive in contact with the tribological contact area, the additive having a first viscosity in a first state before the external circuit is activated, a second viscosity in a second state when the external circuit is activated to produce Joule heating, and a third viscosity in a third state when the external circuit is deactivated after activation, the second viscosity being lower than the third viscosity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.