An Adhesion-Dominated Rolling Friction Regime Unique to Micro-scale Ball Bearings

作者：Hanrahan Brendan M^*; Misra Saswat; Beyaz Mustafa I; Feldman Jeremy H; Waits Christopher M; Ghodssi Reza

来源：Tribology Letters, 2014, 56(2): 215-221.

DOI：10.1007/s11249-014-0401-5

• Vapor-phase lubrication
• Silicon
• Ball bearings
• Adhesive wear
• MEMS

We demonstrate that micro-scale rolling bearings exhibit friction and wear properties markedly different from their macro-scale counterparts. A microfabricated testing platform uses variable rolling element diameters or vapor-phase lubricated interfaces to independently test friction force with varying contact area and surface energy. A linear, consistent, relationship between friction force and contact area is observed among different rolling element diameters. When surface free energy is altered through the introduction of vapor-phase lubrication, an 83 % decrease in friction is observed. When coupled with observed ball material adhered to the raceway, there is strong evidence for adhesion-dominated rolling friction regime at the micro-scale.

• 出版日期2014-11