Abstract
Bowden and Hughes1 have shown that removal of surface oxide films can endow metals with very high coefficients of friction. To examine to what extent these films, when present, prevent metallic contact, electrical resistance measurements have been made on the loaded junction between crossed cylinders (¼ in. in diameter) of various metals, their axes being perpendicular. The apparatus was designed to minimize vibration. The metallic constriction resistances have been calculated from theoretical considerations which have been discussed by Holm2 and plotted against the applied normal loads. Experimental curves for gold and silver between 10 gm. and 10 kgm. agreed closely with the calculations. High resistances obtained with other metals indicated the presence of poorly conducting films in the contacts. Some of the curves could be explained quantitatively by assuming the films to be uniform and stable.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bowden, F. P., and Hughes, T. P., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 172, 263 (1939).
Holm, R., “Electric Contacts”, 79 (Uppsala, Almquist and Wiksells, 1946).
Kerridge, M., Proceedings—Isotopes Techniques Conference, Oxford, July 1951, 2, 26 (H.M.S.O., 1952). Rabinowicz, E., and Tabor, D., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 208, 458 (1951).
McFarlane, J. S., and Tabor, D., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 202, 251 (1950). Hirst, W., Kerridge, M., and Lancaster, J. K., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 212, 516 (1952).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
COCKS, M. Surface Oxide Films in Intermetallic Contacts. Nature 170, 203–204 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/170203a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/170203a0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
