Tribochemistry, mechanical alloying, mechanochemistry: what is in a name?

TL;DR

This paper discusses the various terms used in the field of mechanochemistry, exploring their meanings, evolution, and importance for clear communication and reproducibility in research.

Contribution

It clarifies the definitions and distinctions among tribochemistry, mechanochemistry, and mechanical alloying, emphasizing the need for standardized parameters for reproducibility.

Findings

Terminology has evolved with understanding of the field

Standardized parameters are essential for reproducibility

Clear communication improves research comparison

Abstract

Over the decades, the application of mechanical force to influence chemical reactions has been called by various names: mechanochemistry, tribochemistry, mechanical alloying, to name but a few. The evolution of these terms has largely mirrored the understanding of the field. But what is meant by these terms, why have they evolved, and does it really matter how a process is called? Which parameters should be defined to describe unambiguously the experimental conditions such that others can reproduce the results, or to allow a meaningful comparison between processes explored under different conditions? Can the information on the process be encoded in a clear, concise, and self-explanatory way? We address these questions in this Opinion contribution, which we hop