Rolling-Friction Behavior of Sub-Micron Polystyrene-Sphere Arrays under Very Light Loads

Abstract:

The uniform sub-micron colloidal spheres were arrayed on the surface of a Si substrate via self-assembly to forming a sphere-layer film (monolayer), with emphasis on the application of rolling friction in the presence of rolling spheres on the surface of micro- or nano-equipment. It was found that the arrayed spheres on the substrate are mobile arising from rolling, and they can significantly reduce the friction force through changing the sliding friction to rolling one, thus exhibiting a smaller friction coefficient value than that of pure substrate. On the other hand, the elastic deformation of polystyrene (PS) spheres also contributes to the reduced friction force. In the absence of lubricant, the optimal friction coefficient of sphere-layer film was found to be 0.059 at the load of 3500 µN, at which the friction force of sphere-layer film was only 68% that of substrate. The friction coefficient of sphere-layer film decreases with increasing the applied load up to 3500 µN, followed by an increase with a further enhanced load, which has been ascribed to the transition from elastic contact to plastic one.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 321-324)
• Pages: 174-178
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.321-324.174
• Online since: June 2013
• Authors: Jiao Qu, Shi Rong Ge
• Keywords: Polystyrene Spheres, Rolling Friction, Self-Assembly

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