Kate Tomlinson

Dr Kate Tomlinson, Loughborough University.

Dr Kate Tomlinson is a Senior Lecturer in Tribology in the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University. Kate graduated from the University of Derby with a first-class BSc in Mathematics in 2017 and completed her PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield in 2022. Sponsored by Network Rail, her doctoral research focused on extending the life of railway track components through additive manufacturing. Kate is also Vice Chair of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Tribology Group Committee.

Her research investigates the mechanisms of friction, wear, and material degradation in engineering systems, with a particular interest in wear debris generation and analysis as a tool for understanding tribological processes component condition and the effect on the environment. Her work combines experimental tribology, materials characterisation, and surface engineering to improve asset reliability, performance, and service life. More recently, her research has expanded to include sustainable lubrication technologies and bio-based lubricants for demanding engineering applications.

Nanostructured Lanolin Oleogels for Sustainable High-Load Lubrication

As industries seek to reduce their environmental footprint and comply with increasingly stringent sustainability regulations, there is growing demand for biodegradable alternatives to conventional lubricating greases. Most commercial greases are formulated using mineral oils and lithium-based thickeners derived from finite fossil resources, creating challenges for use in environmentally sensitive applications. Lanolin, a renewable by-product of wool processing, offers excellent boundary lubrication and corrosion protection, but its relatively weak structure limits its use in demanding tribological environments where high load-carrying capacity and mechanical stability are required.

This presentation explores the development of novel lanolin-based oleogel lubricants structured using commercially available bio-based nanofibres and nanomineral additives. Incorporating keratin and cellulose nanofibres alongside functional nanominerals such as titanium dioxide creates robust lubricant networks designed to provide enhanced load-carrying capacity, wear protection, and rheological stability. Particular emphasis will be placed on the tribological behaviour of these systems, examining how nanostructured architectures influence friction, wear, film formation, and performance under severe contact conditions. The talk will discuss the role of nanofibre and nanomineral additives in supporting lubricant performance and compare these emerging bio-based formulations with conventional grease technologies, highlighting the potential of lanolin-based nanostructured lubricants to deliver both high tribological performance and improved environmental sustainability.