Pre-sliding Behaviour of Single Asperity Contact

The pre-sliding and static friction force behaviour at asperity level between a smooth ball and a smooth flat surface at different normal loads, as well as friction behaviour during full slip has been studied. The normal load dependence of the friction force and the preliminary displacement is discussed when the mean contact pressure is kept under 100 MPa. The theoretical model to calculate the shear stress and the preliminary displacement in the contact is discussed and the experimental data were used to verify the model. The results show that for low applied normal loads the adhesion force has an influence on the friction force measurements. Furthermore, the results for the friction force and preliminary displacement show good agreement with the theoretical trends. The experiments along with the model can be used to analyse the tangential traction in the contact and the behaviour of the stick–slip area. The measurement results along with the model were used to calculate the maximum shear stress at the point of sliding for different applied normal loads. It is also shown that at low applied normal loads the shear stress is not constant as compared to relatively high applied normal loads due to the presence of adhesion force.     

Contrasting static-to-kinetic friction transitions on layers of an autophobically dewetted polymer film using Fourier-analyzed shear modulation force microscopy

Fourier analysis of oscillating forces at a laterally modulated tip provides new insight into static-to-kinetic friction transitions on ultrathin polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films. In addition to contrast in sliding friction, layers of autophobically dewetted PVA films exhibit remarkable contrast in the transition from static to kinetic friction as derived from spatially resolved Fourier analysis. These differences relate to strong adsorption of first layer to mica substrate and concomitant conformational arrest, as compared to bulk-like behavior in the second layer. The third Fourier harmonic is found to be a sensitive gauge to variable degrees of sliding as a function of both lateral drive amplitude (0.25–25 nm) and normal load (tensile to compressive). For a 2.5-nm drive on PVA, it is discovered that a largely static contact at compressive loads becomes a largely sliding contact at tensile loads. This finding has implications for the analysis of shear modulation force microscopy of polymers in the context of contact mechanics models, and for studies under variable sample compliance as a function of temperature or plasticizer absorption.     

Velocity dependent friction laws in contact mode atomic force microscopy

Friction forces in the tip–sample contact govern the dynamics of contact mode atomic force microscopy. In ambient conditions typical contact radii between tip and sample are in the order of a few nanometers. In order to account for the large interaction area the dynamics of contact mode atomic force microscope (AFM) is investigated under the assumption of a multi-asperity contact interface between tip and sample. Thus, the kinetic friction force between tip and sample is the product of the real contact area between both solids and the interfacial shear strength. The velocity strengthening of the lateral force is modeled assuming a logarithmic relationship between shear-strength and velocity. Numerical simulations of the system dynamics with this empirical model show the existence of two different regimes in contact mode AFM: steady sliding and stick–slip where the tip undergoes periodically stiction and kinetic friction. The state of the system depends on the scan velocity as well as on the velocity dependence of the interfacial friction force between tip and sample. Already small viscous damping contributions in the tip–sample contact are sufficient to suppress stick–slip oscillations.     

Investigation on the Molecular Shear-Induced Organization in a Molecularly Thin Film of N-hexadecane

The frictional properties of a thin hexadecane film confined between two atomically smooth surfaces of mica were studied using the surface forces apparatus equipped with a 3D actuator–sensor attachment specially designed to investigate static and dynamic forces in three orthogonal directions simultaneously. The use of this attachment allows the relative alignment of the reciprocal sliding motion to be changed by an angle of 90° while maintaining the film under the same confinement conditions. The effects of the commensurability of the confining mica surfaces as well as the relative sliding direction on the frictional behavior of the hexadecane film were determined for different temperatures (18–29 °C) and sliding velocities (4 nm/s to 4 μm/s). The confined hexadecane film exhibited smooth sliding friction whose amplitude increased with the commensuration of the surfaces. A progressive evolution in the kinetic friction force toward a steady-state value was observed over reciprocal sliding motion for given experimental conditions of applied load, sliding velocity and environmental temperature. This friction evolution shows to be dependent on the sliding history of the film and could result from a partial molecular ordering, occurring during shear.     

Influence of Surface Roughness, Material and Climate Conditions on the Friction of Human Skin

The gliding comfort and performance of personal care and wellness products is strongly influenced by the sliding friction behaviour of human skin. In the open literature, most of the results on skin friction are related to the performance of cosmetic products or to the slip and grip properties of surfaces. Experiments were usually carried out on the forearm or the fingertips. The influence of the surface roughness and the material of engineering surfaces have received little attention so far, especially not in sliding contact with the skin of the cheek, or under different climate conditions. A custom-built rotating ring device was used to study the influence of the probe surface roughness (R _a = 0.1–10 μm), the probe material (metals, plastics), the climate conditions (21–29 °C, 37–92% RH) and skin hydration on the frictional behaviour of the skin on the cheek and the forearm. The amplitude of the surface roughness has a dominant influence on the friction behaviour: the smoother the surface, the higher the friction. Differences can be as large as a factor 5–10, especially in the range R _a < 1 μm. The probe material itself has no significant influence; except for PFTE which reduces the friction by approximately 25% compared to the other materials. In a humid climate, the skin becomes hydrated and the friction is twice as high as in a dry climate. The effect of skin hydration is smaller on the cheek than on the forearm, probably due to the presence of beard stubbles. A simple friction model for human skin is presented, based on adhesion friction, contact mechanics of rough surfaces and the interfacial shear stress of thin organic films. The model explains the effects of the probe surface roughness and skin compliance. Quantitative application of the model indicates that the biomechanical indentation and shearing behaviour of the stratum corneum is influenced by the same physical process, i.e. the intercellular bonding strength of the corneocytes.     

Friction Coefficient Measurement of an In Vivo Murine Cornea

Ocular tear film mucins and lipids promote lubricity of the corneal surface during ocular movements. The mechanisms of this lubricity are difficult to model and to measure due to the delicate nature of the film itself and the conditions under which it exists. This study describes a kinetic friction coefficient measured between a glass probe and a living mouse eye. A portable custom micro-tribometer was used to prescribe sliding motions and record normal and frictional forces. Friction coefficient measured over both sliding directions resulted in µ = 0.068 under a pressure of approximately 12 kPa. In vivo measurements may enhance the understanding of corneal friction response, as well as provide an empirical friction coefficient for more complex mechanical models.     

Contact mechanics of wedge and cone indenters

Several aspects of the mechanics of indentation of a half-space by an elastic indenter which is either conical or wedge-shaped are addressed. These include elucidation of the contact law, the state of stress induced when the indenter is either pressed normally or sliding with Coulomb friction, the strength of the contact, and the influence of shearing forces less than those necessary to cause sliding, including those induced by elastic mismatch.     

Stress drop and contact stiffness measured from stick-slip experiments on PMMA-PMMA friction

We present results from an extensive stick-slip study on PMMA-PMMA dry friction, where we studied the influence of a wide range of normal stresses, loading velocities and roughnesses of the sliding surfaces. In this paper we focus (a) on the analysis of a residual coefficient of friction, i.e., shear stress measured at the end of the slip phase divided by the corresponding normal stress, and (b) on the contact stiffness measured by plotting the relative displacement between sample against the shear stress during the stick phase. It is shown that the residual coefficient of friction (i) decreases as normal stress increases, (ii) shows a slight increase when the roughness of the sliding surfaces increases and (iii) does not vary according to the loading velocity. The contact stiffness proved independent of loading conditions and of the roughness of the sliding surfaces. These results are interpreted in terms of asperity interlocking. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Oil-Lubricated Fretting Behaviors of 304 Stainless Steels under Different Fretting Strokes and Normal Loads

The influence of oil lubrication on the fretting wear behaviors of 304 stainless steel flat specimens under different fretting strokes and normal loads has been investigated. The results proved that fretting regimes and fretting wear behaviors of 304 stainless steels were closely related to the fretting conditions. In general, the increase in normal load could increase wear damage during sliding wear. However, according to the results, a significant reduction in wear volume and increase in friction coefficient was observed when the normal load was increased to critical values of 40 and 50 N at a fretting stroke of 50 μm due to the transformation of the fretting regime from a gross slip regime to partial slip regime. Only when the fretting stroke further increased to a higher value of 70 μm at 50 N, fretting could enter the gross slip regime. There was low wear volume and a high friction coefficient when fretting was in the partial slip regime, because oil penetration was poor. The wear mechanisms were fatigue damage and plastic deformation. There was high wear volume and low friction coefficient when fretting was in the gross slip regime, because the oil could penetrate into the contact surfaces. Unlike the wear mechanisms in the partial slip regime, fretting damage of 304 stainless steels was mainly caused by abrasive wear in the gross slip regime.     

Experimental and theoretical evaluation of the deformation component of the coefficient of friction

An analytical model for the calculation of the deformation component of a friction force in sliding of a hard spherical indenter on a viscoelastic material that is modeled as a Kelvin solid is constructed. The influence of mechanical properties of a material and slip velocity of an indenter on the contact characteristics and deformation component of the coefficient of friction is studied. An experimental method for estimation of deformation loss under friction of a high-elasticity material is proposed. A comparison of the results obtained with the use of theoretical model with experimental data is performed.     

Friction reduction in low-load hydrodynamic lubrication with a hydrophobic surface

A novel tribometer capable of measuring low friction forces and low loads at high speeds has been employed to measure the friction coefficient in a pure sliding, ball-on-flat contact in hydrodynamic lubrication conditions. The tribometer was custom-built for measuring friction at low loads, to allow the authors to investigate the feasibility of using the liquid-slip phenomenon for the lubrication of high-sliding MEMS. The theory behind lubrication with liquid slip and its effect on friction is briefly discussed. Contacting surfaces were treated to create hydrophobic/hydrophilic or hydrophilic/hydrophilic pairs. Hydrophobic surfaces were made by coating mica with a self-assembled silane monolayer while the hydrophilic surfaces used were freshly cleaved mica and plasma-cleaned steel. Experiments were conducted at sliding speeds of up to 2 m/s and loads below 0.2 N. An aqueous glycerol solution was used as lubricant. Results obtained with hydrophilic/hydrophilic surfaces were in accord with hydrodynamic lubrication theory. Tests with hydrophobic/hydrophilic surfaces revealed a reduction in friction, which may be attributed to lubricant slip against the hydrophobic surface.     

Observations of Stick-Slip Friction in Velcro®

Friction, and in particular stick-slip friction, occurs on every length scale, from the movement of atomic force microscope tips at the nanoscale to the movement of tectonic plates of the Earth’s crust. Even with this ubiquity, there still appears to be outstanding fundamental questions, especially on the way that frictional motion varies generally with the mechanical parameters of a system. In this study, the frictional dynamics of the hook-and-loop system of Velcro^® in shear is explored by varying the typical parameters of driving velocity, applied load, and apparent contact area. It is demonstrated that in Velcro^® both the maximum static frictional force and the average kinetic frictional force vary linearly with apparent contact area (hook number), and moreover, in the kinetic regime, stick-slip dynamics are evident. Surprisingly, the average kinetic friction force is independent of velocity over nearly two-and-a-half orders of magnitude (~2 × 10^?4 to ~6 × 10^?2 m/s). The frictional force varies as a power law on the applied load with an exponent of 0.28 and 0.24 for the maximum static and kinetic frictional forces, respectively. Furthermore, the evolution of stick-slip friction to more smooth sliding, as controlled by contact area, is demonstrated by both a decrease in the spread of the kinetic friction and the spread of the fluctuations of the average kinetic friction when normalized to the average kinetic friction; these decreases follow power-law behaviors with respect to the increasing contact area with exponents of approximately ?0.3 and ?0.8, respectively. Lastly, we note that the coefficients of friction μ _s and μ _k are not constant with applied load but rather decrease monotonically with power-law behavior with an exponent of nearly ?0.8. Phenomenologically, this system exhibits interesting physics whereby in some instances it follows classical Amontons–Coulomb (AC) behavior and in others lies in stark contrast and hopefully will assist in the understanding of the friction behavior in dry surfaces.     

A numerical model of friction between rough surfaces

This paper describes a computational method to calculate the friction force between two rough surfaces. In the model used, friction results from forces developed during elastic deformation and shear resistance of adhesive junctions at the contact areas. Contacts occur between asperities and have arbitrary orientations with respect to the surfaces. The size and slope of each contact area depend on external loads, mechanical properties and topographies of surfaces. Contact force distribution is computed by iterating the relationship between contact parameters, external loads, and surface topographies until the sum of normal components of contact forces equals the normal load. The corresponding sum of tangential components of contact forces constitutes the friction force. To calculate elastic deformation in three dimensions, we use the method of influence coefficients and its adaptation to shear forces to account for sliding friction. Analysis presented in Appendix A gives approximate limits within which influence coefficients developed for flat elastic half-space can apply to rough surfaces. Use of the method of residual correction and a successive grid refinement helped rectify the periodicity error introduced by the FFT technique that was used to solve for asperity pressures. The proposed method, when applied to the classical problem of a sphere on a half-space as a benchmark, showed good agreement with previous results. Calculations show how friction changes with surface roughness and also demonstrate the method's efficiency.     

Atomistic study of lateral contact stiffness in friction force microscopy

The effective stiffness of a friction force microscope tip–substrate system is an important parameter that describes the relationship between lateral force and elastic deformation. In this study, we use a multi-spring model to simplify the system, where two contributions, the tip apex stiffness and the lateral contact stiffness, are discussed in detail. Molecular dynamics simulations are used to characterize stiffness by simulating a tip apex subject to shear or sliding over a substrate surface. The results show that, although the height of the tip apex and tip–substrate orientation affect the various stiffness contributions, the contact itself dominates the overall compliance.     

MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜的力学性能与摩擦特性

采用非平衡磁控溅射法在9Cr18轴承钢基底上制备了厚度约3μm的MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜,基于球形压头纳米压痕试验,采用连续刚度法对MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜的力学性能进行研究,探究MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜力学性能随压痕深度的变化规律;根据压痕试验载荷-位移曲线,采用Hertz接触理论计算MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜的弹性模量并与试验结果进行对比;利用CSM摩擦试验机对低速、低载下MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜的摩擦特性进行研究;基于压痕试验提出了一种能够更准确计算钢球加载时MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜接触应力的方法,并计算了摩擦试验不同载荷下的接触应力。结果表明:MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜的力学性能和摩擦特性都会受到表面形貌的影响;除表面初始压入阶段外,MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜的弹性模量和接触刚度都随着压痕深度的增大而增大;滑动速度和载荷共同影响MoS2/Ti复合固体润滑膜的摩擦特性。     

Multiple Slips in Atomic-Scale Friction: An Indicator for the Lateral Contact Damping

The occurrence of multiple jumps in 2D atomic-scale friction measurements is used to quantify the viscous damping accompanying the stick–slip motion of a sharp tip in contact with a NaCl(001) surface. Multiple slips are observed without apparent wear for normal forces between 13 and 91 nN. For scans parallel to [100] directions, the tip jumps between minima of the substrate corrugation potential in a zigzag fashion. An algorithm is applied to determine histograms of lateral force jumps which characterize multiple slips. The same algorithm is used to classify multiple slips occurring in calculated lateral force maps. Comparisons between simulations and experiments indicate that the nanometer-sized contact is underdamped at intermediate loads (13–26 nN) and becomes slightly overdamped at higher loads. The proposed procedure is a novel way to estimate the lateral contact damping which plays an important role in the interpretation of measurements of the velocity and temperature dependence of friction, of slip duration, and of the reduction of friction by applied perpendicular or parallel oscillations.     

Lateral Contact Stiffness and the Elastic Foundation

A model for the lateral contact stiffness for an elastic foundation was developed. The model was evaluated using a low force and low contact pressure microtribometer capable of performing indentation and reciprocated sliding experiments. The slope of lateral force versus the lateral displacement was used to fit the shear modulus. When complementary elastic indentation measurements are made to determine the composite modulus of the elastic foundation, there is sufficient data to fit elastic modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson ratio for these thin films. Using these models, the elastic properties for a thin (~65 μm) vertically aligned multiwall carbon nanotube film were evaluated. The experiments were performed with a silicon nitride indenter (radius = 1.6 mm) over a range in loads from 100 to 800 μN. The resulting values of the elastic modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson ratio were E = 429 kPa, G = 156 kPa, and ν = 0.37, respectively.     

Effect of the Abrasive Size on the Friction Effectiveness and Instability of Brake Friction Materials: A Case Study with Zircon

The friction-induced vibration triggered at the sliding interface between the gray iron disk and brake friction material was studied by changing the size of the zircon particles in the friction material. The friction tests were performed using a reduced brake dynamometer and the friction characteristics of the friction materials containing zircon particles with sizes of 3, 50, and 100 μm were analyzed. Our results show that the properties of the sliding surface were strongly affected by the entrenchment of the abrasive particles in the friction layers during sliding. The friction effectiveness was inversely proportional to the size of the abrasive, while friction instability was pronounced when smaller zircon particles were used. The smaller zircon particles produced larger plateaus on the sliding surface with low contact stiffness. However, the contact plateaus with the low contact stiffness showed higher amplitudes of the friction oscillations, suggesting a surface with low stiffness also can produce high propensity of friction instability during sliding. Based on the friction stability diagram and surface properties, such as contact stiffness and surface roughness, it was suggested that the static coefficient of friction, which was changed as a function of dwell time, was crucial to understand the cause of friction-induced force oscillations and propensity of friction instability of brake friction materials.     

Effect of variable friction coefficient on contact tractions

Friction coefficient plays an important role in determining the contact tractions and consequently the stresses that drive damage mechanisms in components subjected to fretting fatigue. Friction coefficient evolves to different magnitudes at different points in the contact interface. Effect of this spatial variation in friction coefficient on the shear distribution for contacts involving similar isotropic materials has been presented in this paper. Full sliding tests have been conducted to obtain friction coefficient as a function of sliding distance. Well characterized set of experiments to determine the average friction coefficient in fretted specimens is briefly discussed. Existing analysis for obtaining the shear traction for arbitrary smooth profiles has been modified to take the variation of friction coefficient from one point to another into account. Using this analysis, spatial variation of friction coefficient in fretted specimens has been obtained. It has been found that using a constant friction coefficient (equal to the slip zone friction coefficient) throughout the contact zone is a good enough approximation in most of the cases. However, in some cases, when the slip zones extend into regions where the friction coefficient has not reached the asymptotic value, actual distribution of friction coefficient gives a different shear stress distribution as compared to a constant slip zone friction coefficient.     

A Nano- to Macroscale Tribological Study of PFTS and TCP Lubricants for Si MEMS Applications

The reliability and lifetime of cyclic contacting Si MEMS is limited by adhesion and their tribological performance. In this study, the tribological effects of adding a lubricant (tricresyl phosphate, TCP) to a bound self-assembled monolayer (perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane, PFTS) at different length scales were examined using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), an atomic force microscope (AFM), a reciprocating microtribometer, and a macroscopic reciprocating tribometer. The results showed that the addition of TCP to a PFTS layer increased the number of cycles possessing low friction and wear by at least a factor of four in the macroscopoic tribometer. Differences in friction response over the range of experimental scales were correlated to contact size and pressure. QCM measurements of TCP on PFTS showed a non-zero slip time, which suggests favorable tribological performance in larger length-scale regimes. This non-zero slip time also may indicate TCP mobility.