Nanoscale friction mapping

摘要

Contrary to classical friction laws postulated by Amontons and Coulomb centuries ago, nanoscale friction force is found to be strongly dependent on the normal load and sliding velocity. Many materials, coatings, and lubricants that have wide applications in microanoelectromechanical systems show reversals in friction behavior corresponding to transitions between different friction mechanisms. We have developed a contour map to provide a fundamental insight into the normal load and sliding velocity dependence of friction force and thus help identify and classify dominant friction mechanisms.