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Friction at the Nanoscale

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Encyclopedia of Tribology
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Synonyms

Phononic friction

Definitions

  • Wearless friction: frictional energy dissipation associated with sliding interfaces that occurs in the absence of wear or permanent deformation of the contacting materials.

  • Phonon: The mechanical vibration of an atomic lattice, or sound wave.

  • Phononic friction: The process occurring when the atoms close to one surface vibrate, generating phonons, when the atoms in the opposing surface slip across them. The phonons then dissipate energy as heat, causing friction.

  • Electronic friction: An energy dissipative mechanism that occurs in electrically conductive materials. During sliding, energy is transferred to the conduction electrons prior to being transferred to phonons, then dissipates as phononic friction. Electrical forces associated with pinned static charges can also contribute to friction.

Scientific Fundamentals

When two surfaces touch each other, the real area of contact Acis much less than their apparent contact area because only the...

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Correspondence to Jacqueline Krim .

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Krim, J. (2013). Friction at the Nanoscale. In: Wang, Q.J., Chung, YW. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tribology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92897-5_456

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