In recognition of his outstanding contribution to tribology, in particular in the field of the fundamental principles of friction and wear.
Professor Rabinowicz received his BA in physics in 1947 and his PhD in physical chemistry in 1950 from the University of Cambridge. He then joined the research staff at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), becoming a professor in 1967.
It was during the late 1950s and early 1960s, whilst Professor Rabinowicz was teaching undergraduates friction, wear and boundary lubrication, that he prepared the manuscript of his book Friction and Wear of Materials. First published in 1965, it is recognised world-wide as a seminal work.
Friction and Wear of Materials now in its second edition has long served as an invaluable reference for information about friction and wear. It epitomises professor Rabinowicz’s approach to the subject, which is to begin with a strong fundamental understanding of the surface interactions governing friction and wear problems. Its text has been of great value, not only to researchers, but also to design engineers in the selection of materials to overcome a particular tribological problem.
Ernest Rabinowicz’s research has also been extraordinarily influential. His early studies showed the important effects of material compatibility and/or to surface energy on the adhesive wear process. Later he studied abrasive wear and erosion and showed how the hardness ratio of the abrading to abraded materials is a governing factor in abrasion. His studies of friction of a variety of sliding material combinations led to an improved understanding of the origins of static and kinetic friction. Although most of his work dealt with dry contact conditions, he also studied the role of boundary lubricants and oxide films in reducing friction and wear.
Arguably Professor Rabinowicz’s best known work is that dealing with the influence of material compatibility on friction and wear. Around 1980 he published several articles in which he summarised his conclusions of the dependence of friction and wear coefficients on the nature of the interaction materials. These articles were based primarily on his earlier experimental work, and were built on the firm understanding of surface energy, adhesion and transfer that he had pioneered. The tables and curves he developed have made it possible for researchers and designers to predict the approximate friction coefficient of wear magnitude that might be expected for a given material couple under set conditions. Such information has been invaluable, particularly for engineers in industry and has made its way into numerous design textbooks and handbooks. His work has had, therefore, a tremendous impact on the practising engineers of the world.
As well as teaching students at MIT, Professor Rabinowicz developed and taught a popular extension course on Friction and Wear to many engineers and scientists from industry. His excellent lectures and teaching videos have reached a wide audience and have helped to make him one of the best known teachers of tribology in the United States, if not the world.
Ernest Rabinowicz retired from MIT in 1993, after 43 years service to tribology and to educating, developing and assisting tribologists.
The award of the Tribology Gold Medal for 1998 to Professor Rabinowicz recognises his outstanding contributions during a most illustrious career. There can be no doubt that he is a worthy recipient of this award.