

Jens Hardell
Professor, Head of Division
Luleå University of Technology
Luleå University of Technology
Machine Elements
Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics
Current employment
Professor
Head of Division, Division of Machine Elements, Luleå University of Technology
Research interests
Tribology with special focus on:
- High temperature tribology
- Friction and wear in dry contacts
- Tribomaterials
- Surface engineering, surface coatings, surface treatments for friction and wear control
- Boundary lubrication
- Tribotesting
- Sheet metal forming
- Machining
- Additive manufacturing
Education and courses
- M0009T Introduction to Engineering - Examiner and lecturer
- M0024T Project course C Sustainable Living - Examiner and project supervisor
- M0012T Machine Components - Lecturer
- T7009T Material Science and Engineering project course - Project supervisor
Previous employments
- 2021 - Professor, Division of Machine Elements
- 2014 - 2021 Associate Professor, Division of Machine Elements
- 2010 – 2014 Assistant Professor, Division of Machine Elements, Luleå University of Technology
- 2009 – 2010 Researcher, Division of Machine Elements, Luleå University of Technology
- 2005 – 2009 PhD student, Division of Machine Elements, Luleå University of Technology
Higher Education Degrees
- 2014 Associate Professor in Machine Elements
- 2009 PhD in Machine Elements. Doctoral thesis title: “Tribology of Hot Forming Tool and High Strength Steels”
- 2007 Licentiate of Engineering in Machine Elements
- 2005 MSc in Mechanical Engineering
Awards
- The Engineering Student Union at Luleå University of Technology Teacher of the Year award 2021
- University's pedagogical prize: Distinguished initiatives for the benefit of education at undergraduate and advanced level 2021
- The Jacob Wallenbergs Foundation Grant for research and development in the field of material science 2020
- The Student Union and PhD Student Association award for Supervisor of the year 2019 at Luleå University of Technology
- Norrbotten Research Council award for best Doctoral Thesis at Luleå University of Technology 2009
Main supervisor for PhD students
Ongoing
- Sergej Mozgovoy, "High-temperature tribology in press hardening"
- Justine Decrozant-Triquenaux, "High-temperature tribology in hot forming of aluminium"
- Gabriel Macêdo, "Tribological characterisation and surface functionalisation of additive manufactured tool materials"
- Daria Kolbas, "High temperature tribology of FeCrAl alloys in liquid lead environment"
- Lisa-Marie Weniger, "Hydrogen embrittlement in rolling element bearings"
Completed
- Pouria Valizadeh Moghaddam, October 2020, "Tribology of carbide-free bainitic steels"
- Maria Rodiouchkina, June 2022, "Material characterization and tribological performance of self-lubricating polymer composite bearing materials used in hydropower applications"
Assistant supervisor for PhD students
Ongoing
- Paul Gruber, "Microstructure and Properties of Weld Overlay Coatings of FeCrAl Alloys on 316L Stainless Steel in Liquid Lead Environment"
Completed
- Daniel Gebretsadik, May 2017, ”Tribological Characteristics of Some Multi-layered Pb-free Engine Bearing Materials"
- Sinuhé Hernandez, March 2016, ”Friction and Wear Phenomena in Steels at Elevated Temperatures”
- Leonardo Pelcastre, December 2013, “High Temperature Galling: Influencing Parameters and Mechanisms”
Scientific collaboration
- Teacher representative in the Appointment Board since 2022
- Department representative in Vice Chancellors quality council since 2021
- Member of the board of the Swedish Tribology Group (STG) since 2011
- Actively working with research cooperation and research strategies for the Centre for High-performance Steel (CHS)
- Conference Chairman and Editor for the Centre of Excellence for Hot Sheet Metal Forming of High-Performance Steel (CHS²)
- Coordinator for industrial contract research activities in Tribolab, Division of Machine Elements, LTU. Responsible for scientific discussions with customers, preparation of project proposals, delegation of work and final reporting to customers.
- Well established research collaboration with leading industries and institutes such as Gestamp HardTech, SKF, SSAB, Ionbond Sweden, Seco Tools, Alleima, Sandvik Coromant, Uddeholm, Epiroc, Hydro, Höganäs, Scania, Volkswagen, ArcelorMittal, QuakerHoughton, Volvo Cars, Swerim, RISE IVF, and more.
- Member of grading committees at Uppsala University, Linköping University and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
- External Examiner at Karlstad University and University of Oulu
- Associate Editor for the Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology
Visiting researcher
- Visiting Professor at Université de Lyon, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Saint-Etienne, France. Teaching and joint research project.
- Kassel University in Kassel, Germany, with Professor Kurt Steinhoff. The research involved tribological experiments using a specialised tribometer for hot forming applications.
- Atatürk University in Erzurum, Turkey, with Professor Ihsan Efeoğlu. The work involved deposition and characterisation of PVD coatings.
Publications
Article in journal
Effect of stroke length on friction and wear of self-lubricating polymer composites during dry sliding against stainless steel at high contact pressures (2022)
Wear, Vol. 502-503
Article in journal
Influence of Counter Surface Roughness and Lay on the Tribological Behaviour of Self-Lubricating Bearing Materials in Dry Sliding Conditions at High Contact Pressures (2022)
Lubricants, Vol. 10, nr. 8
Conference paper
Tribological Behavior of Post-Machined Additively Manufactured Tool Steel in Hot Stamping Conditions (2022)
Part of: Hot Sheet Metal Forming of High-Performance Steel Proceedings, 2022
Article in journal
Tribological performance of iron- and nickel-base self-lubricating claddings containing metal sulfides at high temperature (2022)
Friction, Vol. 10, nr. 12, s. 2069-2085
Article in journal
A novel reciprocating tribometer for friction and wear measurements with high contact pressure and large area contact configurations (2021)
Lubricants, Vol. 9, nr. 12