Friction nanotribology

B. Bhushan, J. N. Israelachvili, U. Landman. Nanotribology friction, wear and lubrication at the atomic scale. Nature (London) 374 607-616, 1995. 

Sundararajan, S., and Bhushan, B., Micro/Nanotribology of Ultra-thin Hard Amorphous Carbon Coatings Using Atomic Force/Friction Force Microscopy," Wear, Vol. 225-229, 1999, pp. 678-689. 

In the previous section, we learned that the important processes of friction occur at microcontacts. Thus, to get a better understanding of friction phenomena, one should study friction at the micro- and nanoscale. This field of micro- and nanotribology evolved with the availability of suitable experimental techniques namely FFM, SFA, and QCM (reviews are Refs. [474,475]). The first measurement of friction with atomic resolution using friction force... 

The availability of new experimental methods at the end of the 1980 s allowed us to study friction on the atomic scale and created the new field of nanotribology. The observed wearless friction on this scale can be understood using the model of Tomlinson where the plucking action of one atom on to the other leads to energy dissipation via the generation of phonons. 

Mathematical structure-property relations have yet to be developed that tie molecular level information to a prediction of friction and wear behavior. Current theories focus on idealized structures and interfacial interactions that are rarely realized in practice. Thus, statistical representations of the surface topography and interfacial forces need to be integrated with nanotribological measurements to develop more widely applicable and predictive tools. 

We are currently in the midst of a new revolution in tribology, driven by (a) the advent of experimental techniques that allow controlled friction measurements at atomic scales and (b) computers that allow the complex dynamics in atomic scale contacts to be analyzed. This new line of study, dubbed nanotribology, is playing a central role in the quest to build robust machines with nanometer-scale moving parts and is poised in turn to beneht from the resulting advances in nanotechnology. 

EeUer, A., Bergstrom, L. and Rutland, M.W (September 12-16 2005) Low friction achieved using repulsive van der Waals forces a nanotribology study with colloid probe AEM. Proc. World Tribology Congress III, Washington, D.C., USA. 

C.M. Mate, Nanotribology of lubricated and unlubricated carbon overcoats on magnetic disks studied by friction force microscopy, Surf. Coat. Technol., 62, 373-379, 1993. 

Atomic force microscopy has been combined with nano-indentation and nano-scratching studies [95]. The hardness (and, to a similar extent, the friction coefficient) of passivated titanium was three to four times higher under in situ conditions, this was assigned to a much faster repassivation process in the presence of the passivating electrolyte solution. Nanotribology, particularly surface friction forces mea-... 

The application of scanning probe microscopy in industrial research is expected to have at minimum one very important dividend knowledge of abrasion and friction applicable to the field of tribology. This study, known as nanotribology, may provide the knowledge required to minimize, and in some cases eliminate, the effects of friction and abrasion. 

Nanotribology The study of friction, abrasion, heat, and lubrication at the scale of the nanometer. 

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