The friction coefficient for samples with flat initial surface
was about 0.015. The measured coefficient of friction for grooved samples is a little lower (see Figure 6). Dependence on groove depth is rather weak and has a minimum value 0.011 at a groove depth around 1.3 μm. It can be a sign of more advantageous conditions in the friction contact provided by grooves. With increasing depth of grooves, coefficient of friction increases. It can be explained that for bigger Selleckchem PF-4708671 grooves relative area of nanoscale polished base surface is reduced, which has negative effect on friction due to plastic deformation of material. Figure 6 Dependence of friction coefficient on depth of grooves during final test stage. Experimental findings may look unexpected, because usually highly polished surface has better friction performance than the rough one. In our case, flat surface with roughness parameter Ra = 0.02 μm has high wear rate in boundary lubrication, while
samples Caspase inhibitor with much more coarse (0.3 to 2.6 μm), but directed variations of surface profile, demonstrate almost no wear. The positive effect is obviously based on selleckchem proper orientation of grooves. When grooves are oriented not along the sliding direction, but perpendicular to it, friction coefficient becomes much larger: 0.05 to 0.08. Conceivably, improper orientation does not provide channels needed for devacuumization of the exit region and also cause adverse effect on friction because linear contact can ‘fall down’ into some of grooves which increase contact stresses. Also, important role plays initial finishing of the surface
between grooves, which should be of nanometer scale. Conclusions In the course of tribological tests of cylindrical roller sliding over a rough surface, a phenomenon of the friction and wear reduction is observed in the case when specially oriented grooves are applied to the surface of the sample. The proposed compressive-vacuum theory explains this phenomenon VAV2 by devacuumization of the contact exit area. Grooves oriented along the sliding direction provide channels needed to equalize hydrodynamic pressure in the contact area, which helps avoid the formation of region with lowered pressure and decreases a probability of adhesive interaction of the surfaces. Effectiveness of this process depends on the depth of grooves. The proposed theory can give important insight into the true nature of processes leading to adhesive contact of friction surfaces in boundary lubrication conditions. It is proposed to include compressive-vacuum component of friction force into consideration, as lowered pressure can create substantial resistance to movement due to suction effects. Considered effects are of great practical significance, because technologically simple preparation of friction surfaces can greatly reduce wear in tribosystems. References 1. Stachowiak GW, Batchelor AW: Engineering Tribology. 4th edition. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2013. 2.