Frictional properties of a surface covered with a soft metal surface film (Surface topography and frictional properties)

Abstract

The friction between a real engineering surface composed of many micro-asperities and a soft metal film is discussed. The frictional coefficient shows a remarkable load dependency when a hard single protuberance of a small radius of curvature is slid on a soft metal surface. This load dependency originates from the ploughing effect induced by the contact pressure and shearing resistance of the soft metal film deforming on the protuberance surface. Next, based on this result, the effect of real engineering surface topography on frictional properties is discussed.