Green tribology: Fundamentals and future development

As green tribology is a new field of tribology still in its infancy, understanding its fundamentals is essential for its further development. In this article, a brief historical retrospective on the emergence of green tribology is introduced first, and then the definition, objectives, and disciplinary features of green tribology are clarified. In particular, the technological connotations of green tribology are expounded comprehensively. Also, the developing directions of this new area are envisaged. These findings may contribute to laying the foundation of further advancement in green tribology.