Tel:
Email: yapkiankun@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn
Address:
Dr Yap Kian Kun specialises in polymer tribology, with a focus on the development of sustainable, self-lubricating, ultralow-wear polymer systems for applications where liquid lubrication is impractical, such as in the aerospace, semiconductor, and food industries. Through self-developed tribometry and in-situ characterisation techniques, he aims to uncover the fundamental interfacial phenomena governing these systems. These techniques include spatiotemporal mapping, high-throughput microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and surface profilometry. Prospective PhD and Master’s students, postdoctoral researchers, and potential collaborators are welcome to contact him at yapkiankun@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn.
02/2020-11/2024, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London
10/2018-09/2019, MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London
09/2013-07/2017, BEng in Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology Malaysia
05/2026-Present, Assistant Professor, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
06/2024-03/2026, Postdoctoral Researcher, King’s College London
08/2017-07/2018, Research Assistant, University of Technology Malaysia
Guest Editor of ACS Applied Engineering Materials
Academic Visitor of Imperial College London
Visiting Researcher of King’s College London
Design of sustainable, self-lubricating, ultralow-wear polymers
Development of tribometry and in-situ characterisation technologies
NSFC Research Fund for International Young Scientists 2026-2028 (Role: PI)
TTRF Taiho Kogyo Tribology Research Fund 2025-2026 (Role: PI)
[1] Kian Kun Yap*, Lucas Amspacher, Jennifer Vail, Shouyi Yin, Sorin-Cristian Vladescu, Marc Masen. Temperature-dependent mechanical and tribological behaviour of unfilled and graphite-filled polyimides. Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties, 2026, 14(2): 025009. (Invited)
[2] Qingduo Meng, Mingchao Shao, Haishan Su, Kian Kun Yap, Yuxiao Ding, Qihua Wang, Tingmei Wang, Hua Yuan*, Fuzhi Song*, Chao Wang*. Influence of humidity on the tribological properties of PTFE/Al₂O₃ and PTFE/SiO₂ composites: An interpretation based on the tribocatalysis mechanism. Tribology International, 2026, 219: 111820.
[3] Jameson Spora*, Kian Kun Yap*, Yasunori Shimizu, Chiharu Tadokoro, Sorin-Cristian Vladescu. Tribological challenges in hydrogen: Solutions for the future energy transition. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2026, 203: 153096.
[4] Kian Kun Yap*, Sergey Shevchik, Lucas Amspacher, Chao Wang, Weixuan Lv, Marc Masen. Measurement uncertainty in optical surface profiling of discontinuous polymer transfer films. Tribology International, 2025, 217: 111611.
[5] Kian Kun Yap*, Kanao Fukuda, Lucas Amspacher, Renato Pero, Nicholas Randall, Marc Masen. Humidity-induced tribofilms of unfilled PTFE. Wear, 2025, 584-585: 206424.
[6] Kian Kun Yap*, Sorin-Cristian Vladescu, Marc Masen. In-situ high-bandwidth microscopy for investigating the roles of adsorbed water and tribofilms on PTFE friction and wear reduction. Tribology International, 2025, 213: 111049.
[7] Weixuan Lv, Tingmei Wang, Qihua Wang, Kian Kun Yap, Fuzhi Song, Chao Wang*. Tribological and mechanochemical properties of nanoparticle-filled polytetrafluoroethylene composites under different loads. Polymers, 2024, 16(7), 894.
[8] Kian Kun Yap*, Marc Masen. In-situ tribometry for understanding the near ultralow wear of neat PTFE. Tribology & Lubrication Technology, 2023, 79(3): 34-44. (Invited)
[9] Kian Kun Yap*, Kanao Fukuda, Jennifer Vail, Janet Wong, Marc Masen. Spatiotemporal mapping for in-situ and real-time tribological analysis in polymer-metal contacts. Tribology International, 2022, 171: 107533.
[10] Kian Kun Yap*, Manoj Murali, Zhengchu Tan, Xue Zhou, Luli Li, Marc Masen. Wax-oil lubricants to reduce the shear between skin and PPE. Scientific Reports, 2021, 11(1): 11537.
[1] Kanao Fukuda, Kian Kun Yap. Transmission, 2022, Japan Patent JP 7018676B2
2026，Emerging Leader of IOP Publishing Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties
2023，Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Tribology Bronze Medal
2023，Institute of Physics (IOP) Innovation in Tribology Prize
2022，Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) Elmer Klaus Fellowship
2019，Imperial College London Departmental Scholarship for MSc and PhD Studies
