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Microscopic Friction Studies on Metal Surfaces

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Abstract

Atomically flat and clean metal surfaces exhibit a regime of ultra-low friction at low normal loads. Atomic force microscopy, performed in ultra-high vacuum on Cu(100) and Au(111) surfaces, reveals a clear stick-slip modulation in the lateral force but almost zero dissipation. Significant friction is observed only for higher loads (∼4–6 nN above the pull-off force) together with the onset of wear. We discuss the minor role of thermal activation in the low friction regime and suggest that a compliant metallic neck between tip and surface is formed which brings upon the low, load-independent shear stress.

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Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thankfully acknowledge various funding agencies including the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Foundation, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Natural Research and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for research funding and the Alexander von Humboldt foundation for a research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbruecken, Germany

    Nitya Nand Gosvami, Philip Egberts & Roland Bennewitz

  2. Department of Physics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Tobin Filleter, Philip Egberts & Roland Bennewitz

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  1. Nitya Nand Gosvami
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  2. Tobin Filleter
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  3. Philip Egberts
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  4. Roland Bennewitz
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Correspondence to Nitya Nand Gosvami.

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Gosvami, N.N., Filleter, T., Egberts, P. et al. Microscopic Friction Studies on Metal Surfaces. Tribol Lett 39, 19–24 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-009-9508-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-009-9508-5

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