Min Zou Named Fellow of Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers

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Min Zou

Min Zou, professor and holder of the Twenty First Century Professorship in Mechanical Engineering, has been elevated to the status of fellow by the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. Founded in 1944, the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers is the premier technical society for the fields of tribology and lubrication engineering. According to its website, the society’s mission is “to advance the science of tribology and the practice of lubrication engineering in order to foster innovation, improve the performance of equipment and products, conserve resources and protect the environment.”

“Dr. Zou is a talented researcher and very deserving of this honor,” said Jim Leylek, head of the department of mechanical engineering. “This is a great achievement for her and for our department.”

Zou’s research focuses on nano-surface-engineering, nanomechanics and nontribology. One of her current research projects involves polytetrafluoroethylene, better known as Teflon, the brand name used by the chemical company DuPont. Famous for being “non-sticky” and water repellent, polytetrafluoroethylene is a dry lubricant used on machine components everywhere, from kitchen tools and engine cylinders to space and biomedical applications By treating thin films of polytetrafluoroethylene with silica nanoparticles, Zou and her research team were able to significantly reduce the wear of the polymer while maintaining a low level of friction.

Zou received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China. She also holds a master’s degree and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Zou serves as the associate editor for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Journal of Tribology.