Prof. XUE was born in the Shandong Province of China. He studied at the Shandong University, thereafter at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences where he obtained his Master’s degree in 1967.From 1980 to 1982 he was a Visiting Scholar at Michigan University of USA. After his return to China, he established the Laboratory of Solid Lubrication in Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics and served as Head of this Laboratory until 1999 when he was appointed Director of Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics developing tribomaterials to meet urgent needs in marine industries in China.
Under his leadership, the Laboratory became the State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication of Chinese Academy of Sciences. It has grown to be the largest group in tribology research in China and acknowledged to be one of the most successful ones, the results of the research carried out at Lanzhou under his leadership having made valuable contributions to the economic growth of China.
Prof. XUE’s outstanding research has included tribo chemical mechanism, novel anti wear and self-lubricating materials. These covered inter alia the fundamental tribo chemistry mechanism of oil additives, wear mechanism of polymer materials (PTFE); the model of TZP ceramic phase transformation during wear process; Nano-bearing effect of lubricating C60 carbon particles; fabrication and tribological characterization of different types of low coatings; fundamental work on the formation of nano surface layers formed on traditional metal and ceramic materials, and the influence of these nano surface layers on wear and friction characteristics of the tribo-system.
In the field of space, Prof. XUE’s group was responsible for the successful applications of new solid lubricating films and self-lubricating materials including polymer-based moving parts, metal-polymers composite rolling bearings, self-lubricating seals for China’s space industry and military equipment industry. His group’s research work on space solid lubricating materials considerably contributed to the National Space Programme including manned spaceflights, the “space laboratories” and the exploration of the moon. New solid lubricating films or coatings are now used in Chinese satellites and space crafts from early-launched satellites to the Shenzhou 7 .
On a wider global scale, Prof. XUE Hs made significant contributions which helped to raise the global standards of tribology. He acquired an international reputation as an outstanding researcher in these fields and his role as Vice President of International Tribology Council (1997-2007), the Chairman of Asian Tribology Council(1999-2003)and the Chairman of Chinese Tribology Institution (1997-2003) has gained much praise and recognitions both by the international and Chinese tribology community.
Prof. XUE’s work has not limited to his scientific researches and leadership in the Chinese tribology area. He was actively and passionately involved in the education of next generation of tribologists. Over 60 PhDs have successfully finished their research work under his supervision, many of whom are now quite active in key positions in universities and research institutes, or in prominent companies in China and the rest of the world. He is adjunct professor of 10 Universities or Institutes in China, helping to educate the next generation of scholars and pioneers in tribology to meet the industrial development needs of China. He also founded the “Journal of Tribology” in China (serving as its Editor in Chief), encouraging young people to become tribologists.
The results of Prof. XUE’s studies enabled the reduction of costs, energy losses through friction and wear leading to increased reliability and lifetime of many industrial installation, transportation in China. His group’s novel oil additives and solid lubricant are now mass produced in China, beneficially affecting the national economy.
Prof. XUE has held several leadership positions not only in tribology but also in general technology and science within China which helped to extend the application of tribology in fields other than the space industry. Prof. XUE has published 300 peer-viewed international papers in the field of tribology and related fields and holds 33 patents (at present 32 new applications are pending). In 1997 he was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (Academician). In 2008 he was awarded the Chinese Tribology Institute’s highest honor, the Supreme Achievement Award.
