The role of athermal mechanisms in the activation of tribodesorption and triboluminisence in miniature and lightly loaded friction units

Analysis of how the size of the tribocontact influences temperature rise in the contact zone has revealed that the maximum temperature rise in tribocontact with micro- and nanodimensions does not exceed 10 K. As the contact zone shrinks, each surface point is in contact for a shorter time so that the thermal activation leaves various friction-induced processes in the contact zone more or less unaffected. Thus, there should be athermal processes of activation of tribostimulated phenomena. The athermal mechanisms are considered that are likely to activate tribodesorption of gases and triboluminscence.