Frictional Properties of a Surface Covered With Soft Metal Surface Film (Surface Topography and Frictional Properties)

Abstract

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