Wise-EST

Shared equipment and resources
WiseEST is a national platform that provides world‑class and versatile tribological testing facilities, along with extensive and advanced materials analysis capabilities. This is combined with the accumulated expertise of tribology specialists from two leading universities in the field.

Tribological processes are extremely sensitive to the exact conditions under which they occur. Even small variations in components, materials, lubrication, or other parameters can have a significant impact on friction and wear. As a result, it is rarely meaningful to extrapolate results from a general wear test to a specific application. To be relevant, the test method must be carefully adapted to the intended application, or even specifically designed to replicate its critical parameters.

Furthermore, evaluating performance and analyzing the underlying mechanisms, including material transformations and interactions with the environment, requires deep, accurate, and experience‑based assessment. The complexity of conducting meaningful tribological testing and analysis is often greatly underestimated.

Through collaboration, the two nodes can offer broader expertise, experience across more application areas, a wider range of tribological testing equipment, and an expanded suite of advanced microscopy and surface‑analysis tools. Building on the equipment already available at the two sites, WISE has enhanced testing capacity with in‑situ testing, testing in harsh environments, and equipment for in‑operando analysis of tribological phenomena. The analytical capabilities are thanks to WISE further strengthened with an Auger electron spectroscopy microscope and a FIB‑SEM equipped with TOF‑SIMS.

Coordination
WiseEST is led by a steering group composed of two scientific directors from the two nodes, together with two local platform managers. An advisory group of industrial experts provides external guidance on the activities.

Access and guidance for users within the coordinated RTP
New users will find extensive information on the linked WISE websites at the two universities, including details about available equipment, its location, and the local contact persons.

Both nodes are open to projects carried out by the staff in the tribology groups, as well as to projects in which the platform manager provides training and grants access to new users.