Glad Contiu

Glad Contiu


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 September 2022 in Polymers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Corina J. BîrleanuCorina J. Bîrleanu
Corina J. Bîrleanu
MPMarius Pustan
Marius Pustan
GPGrigore Marian Pop
Grigore Marian Pop
MCMircea Cioaza
Mircea Cioaza
FPFlorin Popa
Florin Popa
GCGlad Contiu
Glad Contiu
Friction and wear experiments were performed on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, and the tribological behavior of these materials under boundary lubrication (based on the 5100 4T 10 W-30 engine oil with TiO2 Degussa P25 nanoparticles) was investigated. Experiments were carried out in two directions: one at a different normal load from 6 to 16 N and one at a low sliding speed of 110 mm/min under boundary lubrication conditions. The obtained results reveal the stick-slip effect and the static and dynamic coefficient of friction decreased slightly with increasing normal applied load on the carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite pairs. The second direction highlights through experimental tests on the pin on disc tribometer that the friction coefficient increases with the increase in normal load (20–80 N) and sliding velocity (0.4–2.4 m/s). On the other hand, it is found that the friction coefficient is slightly lower than in the stick-slip phase. During the running-in process, the friction coefficient of the CFRP pair increases steadily as the rubbing time increases, and after a certain rubbing period, it remains constant regardless of the material of the counter face. The obtained results show that for the observed interval, the influence of normal load and sliding velocity have relatively small fraction coefficients and low wear depths. A 3D analysis of the profile demonstrated the texture of wear marks and tracks of these engineering composite materials. Furthermore, the height variations of wear marks and the morphologies of the worn surfaces of specimens under boundary lubrication conditions were analyzed.

19 June 2023 in Polymers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Corina J. BîrleanuCorina J. Bîrleanu
Corina J. Bîrleanu
MPMarius Pustan
Marius Pustan
MCMircea Cioaza
Mircea Cioaza
Paul BerePaul Bere
Paul Bere
GCGlad Contiu
Glad Contiu
Daniel FilipDaniel Filip
Daniel Filip
Tribo-mechanical experiments were performed on Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GRFP) composites against different engineering materials, and the tribological behavior of these materials under dry conditions was investigated. The novelty of this study consists of the investigation of the tribomechanical properties of a customized GFRP/epoxy composite, different from those identified in the literature. The investigated material in the work is composed of 270 g/m2 fiberglass twill fabric/epoxy matrix. It was manufactured by the vacuum bag method and autoclave curing procedure. The goal was to define the tribo-mechanical characteristics of a 68.5% weight fraction ratio (wf) of GFRP composites in relation to the different categories of plastic materials, alloyed steel, and technical ceramics. The properties of the material, including ultimate tensile strength, Young’s modulus of elasticity, elastic strain, and impact strength of the GFPR, were determined through standard tests. The friction coefficients were obtained using a modified pin-on-disc tribometer using sliding speeds ranging from 0.1 to 0.36 m s−1, load 20 N, and different counter face balls from Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyamide (Torlon), 52,100 Chrome Alloy Steel, 440 Stainless Steel, and Ceramic Al2O3, with 12.7 mm in diameter, in dry conditions. These are commonly used as ball and roller bearings in industry and for a variety of automotive applications. To evaluate the wear mechanisms, the worm surfaces were examined and investigated by a Nano Focus—Optical 3D Microscopy, which uses cutting-edge μsurf technology to provide highly accurate 3D measurements of surfaces. The obtained results constitute an important database for the tribo-mechanical behavior of this engineering GFRP composite material.

23 December 2023 in Polymers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Corina J. BîrleanuCorina J. Bîrleanu
Corina J. Bîrleanu
MCMircea Cioaza
Mircea Cioaza
Florina SerdeanFlorina Serdean
Florina Serdean
MPMarius Pustan
Marius Pustan
Paul BerePaul Bere
Paul Bere
GCGlad Contiu
Glad Contiu
Fibers play an important role when studying the tribological behavior of reinforced friction composites. The purpose of the current research is to develop a glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) recipe with improved tribological properties as well as to find the composites with the optimal tribological behavior. A ball-on-disc tribometer was used to perform dry sliding friction testing, the obtained results were then analyzed with the ELECTRE (ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalite-elimination and choice translating the reality) method based on a utility matrix having process parameters the applied load, sliding velocity, and weight percentage of the fiber content. The ELECTRE method was chosen to find the optimal tribological parameters, with respect to more performance criteria, because it is one of the best multiple criteria decision-making methods. The optimal combination of parameters for the multi-response characteristics of the investigated friction composite was at an applied load of 10 N, a sliding velocity of 0.1 ms−1 and a 54% weight fiber content. The results showed that the addition of glass fiber (GF) content did not considerably improve the tribological behavior of the friction composites. In addition, from the nano focus–optical 3D scanning electron microscopy, images of the friction, tested friction and wear composites, plate formation, fiber-matrix delamination, fiber pull-out, and matrix cracking and damage, various wear mechanisms were identified.

22 April 2025 in Metals
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Journal Article
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Cosmin CosmaCosmin Cosma
Cosmin Cosma
MMMartin Melichar
Martin Melichar
SLStelian Libu
Stelian Libu
IPIoan Alexandru Popan
Ioan Alexandru Popan
GCGlad Contiu
Glad Contiu
Nicolae BalcNicolae Balc
Nicolae Balc
Cobalt–chromium (CoCr) alloys are frequently used to produce customized dental applications such as crowns, bridges, or prostheses. These medical products have anatomical forms, and can be effectively manufactured using the laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) technique. A major disadvantage of this approach is the extended time required to refine the resultant surface. The purpose of this research is to reduce the surface roughness of PBF-LB/M/CoCr dental crowns by adopting drag finishing (DF) technology. To evaluate the impact of this automatic post-processing, surface roughness measurements and geometrical investigations were undertaken. The microstructure was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the chemical composition was verified by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). On outside surfaces, the DF post-processing decreased the initial surface roughness by 70–90%. The dental crown’s surface roughness value after DF post-processing was comparable to that of the basic form (cylinder). The lowest roughness was obtained with DF3 post-processing (Ra~0.60 μm). The inner surfaces were limitedly finished. The 3D surface texture showed that the DF method reduced the height of peaks, uniformizing the surfaces. CMM work compared the deviations between the virtual model and the printed samples before and after DF post-processing. This analysis revealed that dimensional deviations were reduced on the outside crown walls, ranging from +0.01 to +0.05 mm. The laser parameters and the heat treatment applied increased the hardness of CoCr crowns to 520 HV, but the proper DF conditions identified reduced the surface roughness and improved the accuracy.

23 October 2025 in Lubricants
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Journal Article
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Corina J. BîrleanuCorina J. Bîrleanu
Corina J. Bîrleanu
MCMircea Cioaza
Mircea Cioaza
Suciu Ramona CrinaSuciu Ramona Crina
Suciu Ramona Crina
AMAndreia Molea
Andreia Molea
MPMarius Pustan
Marius Pustan
FPFlorin Popa
Florin Popa
The development of stable and efficient nanolubricants remains one of the main challenges in tribology due to particle agglomeration, poor long-term stability, and inconsistent frictional behavior under boundary lubrication. This study investigates the tribological performance of SAE 10W-40 engine oil enhanced with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles subjected to thermal treatments. TiO2 powders (Degussa P25, ~30 nm) were calcined at 450 °C, 550 °C, 650 °C, and 750 °C, and incorporated into the base oil at a constant concentration of 0.05 wt%. Tribological tests were conducted using a four-ball tribometer under ASTM D4172 conditions (396 N, 1200 rpm, 30 min) at both ambient (23 °C) and elevated (75 °C) temperatures. The coefficient of friction (COF) and wear scar area (WSA) were measured, while the surface morphology was analyzed via 3D optical profilometry, SEM, and EDS. The results indicate that TiO2 nanoparticles thermally treated at 550 °C offered the best tribological behavior, exhibiting the lowest COF and smallest WSA at both test temperatures. The improved performance is attributed to optimized crystalline structure and enhanced dispersion stability after calcination. Although no Ti-based tribofilm was detected, smoother wear scars suggest physical surface protection mechanisms, such as rolling and asperity smoothing. These findings highlight the critical influence of thermal treatment on nanoparticle effectiveness and demonstrate the potential of optimized nanoadditized lubricants for advanced friction and wear reduction under boundary lubrication conditions, providing practical guidance for developing next generation nanolubricants with improved durability and efficiency under boundary lubrication conditions.

15 February 2023 in Tehnicki vjesnik - Technical Gazette
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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PBPatricia Bondor
Patricia Bondor
DRDan Ovidiu Rusu
Dan Ovidiu Rusu
IVIoan Doru Voina
Ioan Doru Voina
GCGlad Contiu
Glad Contiu
MPMarcel Sabin Popa
Marcel Sabin Popa
The paper presents the results and the influence a single factor has in the drilling process. The research is focused on how modifying the cutting speed influences parameters like cutting forces, cutting temperature, tool life, wear mechanism, and ch...