posted on 2015-06-22, 15:22authored byW.W.F. Chong, Homer Rahnejat
At microscale, friction is better understood fundamentally through hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic lubrication. However, the mechanisms governing friction at nanoscale remains a subject of interest. With the emergence of small-scale devices such as Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) and Nanoelectromechanical Systems (NEMS), there is a need to improve on the fundamental understanding of friction at diminishing gaps. Therefore, the paper investigates the friction of a simple fluid (n-hexadecane 99%) using an atomic force microscope. The measurements are interpreted using modified Eyring’s thermal activation energy approach in order to examine the effect of molecular solvation at the assumed smooth summit of asperities. It is found out that solvation for a sliding contact could be observed through the shear stress activation volume due to generated thermal energy, which indicates the movement of the fluid molecules into and out of the contact.
Funding
The authors acknowledge the support provided by the Malaysian Ministry of Education under the
Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) through the n-SIMPAC project and the Exploratory
Research Grant Scheme (ERGS) through The Design of Lubricant and Surface Interaction for
Reduced Boundary Friction and Wear project.
History
School
Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
Published in
Key Engineering Materials
Volume
642
Pages
3 - 7 (5)
Citation
CHONG, W.W.F. and RAHNEJAT, H., 2015. Atomic scale friction in the function of modified Eyring activation energies. Key Engineering Materials, 642, pp. 3 - 7.
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