Friction and Adhesion of Clean Metals

Abstract

IT is now well established that the development of high friction and ultimately of seizure between rubbing metal surfaces is greatly facilitated by progressive cleaning, particularly in the final stages when the last remaining contaminant films of atomic dimensions are removed. We have recently carried out further experiments on the lines of those of Bowden and Hughes¹, originally with the object of determining the temperature coefficient of friction over a wide temperature range, and have found that with clean surfaces complete seizure occurs.