Effect of capillary formation on friction and pull-off forces measured on submicron-size asperities

Asperities with hemispherical peaks were fabricated on a silicon substrate using a focused ion beam. Pull-off and friction forces were measured on each asperity using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in high vacuum (HV) of 2 × 10^–5 Pa. The probe of the AFM cantilever had a flat square tip, approximately 1 × 1 m² in area. The radius of curvature of the asperity peaks ranged from 70 to 610 nm. The results showed that the pull-off force was roughly proportional to this radius. The friction force was proportional to the pull-off force. Effects of the substrate temperature on pull-off force on a plane (the flat substrate) and friction force on an asperity were also examined. The pull-off force on the flat substrate increased with increasing contact time at a substrate temperature of 100 °C or lower, but was independent of contact time at 190 °C or higher. This suggests that the capillary cannot form at a substrate temperature of 190 °C or higher. The friction force increased with lower sliding velocities at 100 °C or lower, suggesting the capillary has a lubricating effect that prevents direct solid contact.     

Relation Between Friction and Plastic Deformation Examined by Using Periodic Asperity Arrays Fabricated on an AFM Multipurpose Cantilever

The relation between friction force and plastic deformation was determined by using FIB (focused ion beam)-processed multipurpose cantilevers for an AFM (atomic force microscope). First, a multipurpose cantilever consisting of a sliding block, parallel leaf spring, and hinge was made by using an FIB. Then, copper pyramids were rubbed against an unmodified area or periodic asperity arrays fabricated on the cantilever under loads of 23 to 960 nN. Under higher loads (900 nN), the friction coefficient measured for an asperity array was lower than that for an unmodified area and decreased with decreasing curvature radius of the asperity peak, and the specific volume change rate increased with decreasing curvature radius of the asperity peak.     

Recent studies on the application of microfabrication technologies for improving tribological properties

The relationships between nanometer‐scale surface textures of periodic asperity arrays and friction force in unlubricated conditions and the relationships between micrometer‐scale surface textures of two‐tier structures and friction force in mixed lubrication conditions were investigated. The friction force and pull‐off force were measured on the asperity array in an unlubricated condition. Each force was proportional to the radius of the curvature of the asperity peak. The pull‐off force was determined by the Laplace pressure of the capillary condensed water. The friction force was measured on the micrometer‐scale surface textures of a two‐tier structure in lubricated conditions. The friction coefficient increased with higher bearing characteristic numbers at the higher B, though the friction coefficient was constant at the lower B. The roughness of the pin surface and the geometry of the two‐tier structure affected the friction coefficient at the lower B and higher B, respectively. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lowering friction coefficient under low loads by minimizing effects of adhesion force and viscous resistance

Conditions (normal load, sliding speed, ambient conditions, and material) to obtain the lower friction coefficient were studied by measuring the friction and pull-off forces between a metal pin (copper or gold) and a plate (steel or single crystal silicon). First, a pin was rubbed against a plate under a normal load between −12 and 870 μN at a sliding speed between 0.012 and 9.6 μm/s. The friction force was measured during reciprocating sliding motion. The pull-off force was measured before and after each friction force measurement. All the force measurements were taken in high vacuum at 10⁻⁵ Pa, dry argon at 1 atm, and ambient humid air of 38 and 60% relative humidity. Then, the friction coefficient was calculated by dividing friction force by the sum of normal load and pull-off force. In high vacuum, when a copper pin was rubbed against either a silicon or steel plate, the friction coefficient decreased to less than 0.05 with decreasing sliding speed. The effect of sliding speed on the friction coefficient suggests that under a low normal load the viscous resistance of liquid contributed to the friction force. When a gold pin was rubbed against a silicon plate, the friction coefficient was not affected by sliding speed.     

Using FIB-processed AFM cantilevers to determine microtribology characteristics

Microtribology characteristics were determined by using a combination of single asperities and three types of FIB (focused ion beam)-processed cantilevers for AFM (atomic force microscope). First, single gold asperities were rubbed with single and parallel leaf springs. For the parallel leaf spring, the pull-off force was proportional to the worn area of the gold asperity peak. The total volume of the gold asperity only slightly changed with rubbing. Second, the friction force on a worn asperity was measured by using a double parallel leaf spring, and the results showed that the friction force was proportional to the sum of the normal load and the pull-off force.     

Finite element modeling of adhesive contact using molecular potential

A finite element technique for analysis of adhesive contact is developed in which the adhesive force is modeled as a body force derived from Lennard–Jones 12–6 potential. Adhesive contact of an elastic hemispherical asperity with the plane surface of a semi-infinite rigid body is analyzed. Variations of the interaction force and contact radius during approach and withdrawal, and the dependence of pull-off force on the asperity radius are shown to be in good agreement with those of Maugis–Dugdale model. Analysis results reveal that smaller asperity is superior for preventing stiction and for reducing adhesive friction, but is subject to more severe adhesive wear. It is anticipated that this technique can be utilized in designing a low-adhesion surface profile for MEMS applications since the effect of various surface geometries can be examined.     

An experimental study on the adhesion at a nano-contact

Nano-adhesion characteristics between scanning probe microscope (SPM) tips of various radius of curvature and flats of different materials were experimentally studied. Adhesion and friction forces between Si-wafer (1 0 0) and Si₃N₄ tips were measured under various applied normal loads, and the results were compared to those of diamond-like carbon (DLC), tungsten incorporated diamond-like carbon (W-DLC) and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed on Si-wafer surfaces. Also in order to study the effect of capillary force, tests were performed in various relative humidity. Results showed that the adhesion increased with the tip radius. When the applied normal load increased from 0 to 40 nN, the adhesion did not change, but the friction increased linearly. Results generally showed that surfaces of the more hydrophobic property revealed the lower adhesion. The adhesion forces increased with the relative humidity. The nano-adhesion phenomenon was discussed on the basis of JKR model and capillary force exerted by meniscus.     

Adhesion and friction properties of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films measured by atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy has been used to measure adhesion and friction forces at the interface between an oxidized metal probe tip and amorphous carbon films of varying hydrogen contents (12.3–39.0 atomic percent hydrogen). The interface of an oxide surface and a hard carbon coating models the unlubricated head-disk interface of current hard disk products. Adhesion forces normalized by the radius of curvature of the contacting tip range from 1.09 to 8.53 N/m. Coefficients of friction values, measured as the slope of the friction versus load plot, range from 0.33 to 0.87. A trend of increasing adhesion forces and coefficients of friction is observed for increasing hydrogen content in the films. We attribute the increase in adhesion and friction to increases in the surface free energy of the carbon films with the incorporation of hydrogen.     

Microtribology

Contacts in microsystems are under very light loads, and contact elements are made of hard materials. However, contact surfaces are not always atomically smooth but have relatively high peaks of asperity. Silicon is hard but has poor anti‐wear properties. Good hard coatings thus become necessary for low wear. Liquid lubricants or adsorbed water generate meniscus forces and stiction. Therefore, a new lubrication method is required for coated surfaces. The present understanding of mechanisms of stiction and the generation of pull‐off force and high friction is reviewed for such contact conditions. New hard coating materials and a new concept of N2 lubrication that exhibit promising friction and wear behaviour are introduced. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Frictional forces between cohesive powder particles studied by AFM

A range of commercially important powders (hydrated alumina, limestone, titania and zeolite) and glass ballotini were attached to atomic force microscope cantilevers, and inter-particle friction forces studied in air using lateral force microscopy (LFM). The in situ calibration procedure for friction forces is described. LF images, line profiles, LF histograms, surface roughness, pull-off forces, and the load dependence of friction in the range 0-25 nN were studied for both particle-particle and particle-wall (steel) contacts. The single-particle friction results are discussed in terms of contact mechanics theory. Particle-particle contacts showed load-dependent friction, involving single asperity contacts (non-linear behaviour) or multi-asperity contacts (linear behaviour). Particle-wall contacts usually showed little load dependence and were more adhesive. The results are also related to shear stress-normal stress data (yield loci) for the same materials from bulk shear testers.     

Ni nanodot-patterned surfaces for adhesion and friction reduction

Surface nano-patterning with Ni nanodot arrays was investigated for adhesion and friction reduction of contacting interfaces. Self-assembled anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates in conjunction with thermal evaporation was used to fabricate nano-patterned surfaces with ordered Ni nanodot arrays on Si substrates. Surface morphology of the Ni nanodot-patterned surfaces (NDPSs) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adhesion and friction studies on a Ni NDPS and a baseline smooth Si(100) surface were conducted using a TriboIndenter employing a diamond tip with 100 μm nominal radius of curvature. The results show that the ordered Ni nanodot-patterning reduced the adhesion forces and coefficients of friction up to 92 and 83%, respectively, compared to those of the smooth silicon surface. Surprisingly, the nanoscale multi-asperity contact between the diamond tip and inhomogeneous Ni NDPSs under low loads follows a continuum contact mechanics model.     

Investigation of the wear mechanism of carbon-fiberreinforced acetal

The friction and wear characteristics of acetal reinforced with 25 wt.% of randomly dispersed carbon fibers were investigated and compared with those of the base resin. The addition of carbon fibers to the polymer decreased the coefficient of friction and wear rate for the composite material sliding against a hardened and ground steel disk for extended periods of time. A number of surface topography parameters pertinent to the wear process, i.e. arithmetic average roughness, autocorrelation function, asperity density, tip radius of curvature, distribution of the radii of curvature and heights of asperity peaks, and ordinale heights, were calculated and evaluated for the sliding surface of the disk. The worn surfaces of filled and unfilled polymer pins were examined by scanning electron microscopy to investigate the probable wear mechanism for these materials. It was found that the wear of reinforced polymers proceeds by the pulling-out of the broken and worn fibers.     

Effect of surface roughness on contact between solid surfaces

The analysis of the mechanism of contact between two solids was carried out considering the distribution of the radii of curvature of asperity peaks. The analytical results show that the mean radius of curvature of asperity peaks has a considerable effect on the nature of the deformation of contact asperities, i.e. whether the contact is plastic or elastic, and more effect on the real area of contact than the variation of the distribution of the radii of curvature.The radii of curvature at the asperity peaks and the real area of contact between two smooth surfaces were measured for comparison with the theoretical results. The results for isotropic surfaces produced by buffing and sandpaper agree with the theory; the real area of contact increases with decreasing surface roughness.     

Atomic-scale study of friction and energy dissipation

This paper presents an analysis of the interaction energy and various forces between two surfaces, and the microscopic study of friction. Atomic-scale simulations of dry sliding friction and boundary lubrication are based on the classical molecular dynamics (CMD) calculations using realistic empirical potentials. The dry sliding of a single metal asperity on an incommensurate substrate surface exhibits a quasi-periodic variation of the lateral force with two different stick-slip stage involving two structural transformation followed by a wear. The contact area of the asperity increases discontinuously with increasing normal force. Xe atoms placed between two atomically flat Ni surfaces screen the Ni-Ni interaction, decrease the corrugation of the potential energy as well as the friction force at submonolayer coverage. We present a phononic model of energy dissipation from an asperity to the substrates.     

Nanotribology of a Silica Nanoparticle-Textured Surface

Tribological properties of a silica nanoparticle-textured (SNPT) surface were investigated at the nanoscale using a nanoindenter. The sample was fabricated by spin coating chemically synthesized silica nanoparticle solution onto a silicon substrate and then annealing the substrate in an N₂ environment. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) were used to characterize the morphology of the SNPT surface. Adhesion and friction experiments were performed with a diamond tip of nominal radius of curvature of 5 μ m, under contact forces of 750-1500 μ N, and with sliding speed of 0.1-2 μ m/s. The nanotribological properties of the SNPT sample were compared to those of a smooth silicon oxide film (SOF)-coated sample. The adhesion performance of the SNPT surface was found to be much better than that of the SOF surface. The coefficient of friction (COF) reduced up to 26%.

     

Microtribological studies of unlubricated sliding Si/Si contact in air using AFM/FFM

Tribological properties of Si/Si contacts were measured on a microscale by using an atomic force/friction force microscope. Friction forces and pull-off forces between a Si tip and a polished surface of a Si(100) wafer were studied as a function of applied normal load and relative humidity of the surrounding air. The results show that pull-off forces and friction coefficients increased and were strongly influenced by capillary forces with increasing humidity. Tribological interactions during 20 passes of overlapping sliding contact at 50% relative humidity and very small loads of 70 nN were confined to the layer of adsorbates and chemical reactions, without measurable solid damage on the Si(100) wafer.     

Adhesion and friction studies of a nano-textured surface produced by spin coating of colloidal silica nanoparticle solution

This paper presents the results of adhesion and friction studies on a nano-textured surface. The nano-textures were produced by spin coating colloidal silica nanoparticle solution on a flat silicon substrate. Surface morphology was characterized by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Adhesion and friction studies were conducted using a TriboIndenter employing diamond tips with 5 μm and 100 μm nominal radii of curvature. The results show that the adhesion forces and coefficients of friction of the nano-textured surface measured by the 100 μm tip were reduced up to 98 and 88%, respectively, compared to those of a baseline silicon oxide film surface.     

Dynamic variations in adhesion of self-assembled monolayers on nanoasperities probed by atomic force microscopy

Octadecyltriethoxysilane (OTE) self- assembled monolayers (SAMs) and their effects on friction and adhesion have been investigated on various combinations of functionalized and unfunctionalized silicon oxide surfaces including the oxidized surface of crystalline Si(100), silica nanoparticle films, and oxidized Si atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips. Force-distance spectroscopy was utilized to probe and compare the properties of the OTE SAMs on silica asperities with nanoscale curvature against these same monolayers on surfaces with sub-1 nm roughness (flat surfaces). It was found that adhesion between SAMs and silicon oxide surfaces can vary significantly when assembly takes place on surfaces with nanoscopic curvature as compared to flat surfaces. Observations indicate that the SAM structure present during force measurements is dynamic in nature, which yields different adhesion values when measured with variations of both tip-sample contact time and tip-approach/retract rates. These results point the need in reporting a number of measurement parameters when probing adhesion by SAM functionalized tips.     

Characterization of mixed self-assembled monolayers for immobilization of streptavidin using chemical force microscopy

Mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to immobilize streptavidin on a gold surface were investigated by measuring the pull-off force between an AFM tip and a biotin-modified surface using CFM. Biotin-LC-NHS was modified on SAMs prepared from a mixed solution of cystamine and MEOH. Increased pull-off forces between the AFM tip and the surface were observed with an increased cystamine mole fraction in the solution. Streptavidin was immobilized onto biotin-LC-NHS modified mixed SAMs and analyzed by tapping AFM. Also, the formation of mixed SAMs containing MUOH and MBDA was confirmed using CFM. The measured pull-off forces on the only MBDA surface were larger than those on the surface with MUOH. These results can be applied to determine an optimal mixing ratio of MUOH and MBDA SAMs that reduces non-specific streptavidin binding onto a surface.