Both
lines consider that tribochemical wear is needed to smooth the
contact surfaces, change their electrochemical properties and
enlarge the area of contact, which in turn reduces the contact
pressure and increases the specific film thickness. However, the
synergy between tribochemical wear, surface smoothening, pressure
reduction, contact area enlargement, electrochemical properties
of the tribosystem, formation of colloids and dissolution, as
well as the definition of their relative importance on the superlubricity
phenomenon, are not established yet.