| AVS 61st International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Tribology Focus Topic | Thursday Sessions |
| Session TR+NS-ThM |
| Session: | Bridging Scales in Tribology |
| Presenter: | Brandon Krick, Lehigh University |
| Authors: | B.A. Krick, Lehigh University K.G. Rowe, University of Florida A.I. Bennett, University of Florida D.W. Hahn, University of Florida W.G. Sawyer, University of Florida |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Tribological phenomena occur at interfaces which are often difficult to directly observe or access. In situ techniques are rapidly emerging to probe surfaces buried at an interface, illuminating the physical, mechanical and chemical interactions between two surfaces in intimate contact. In this presentation, we discuss several in situ techniques, including optical microscopy of the real area of contact, thermal imaging of contact temperature, and Surface Plasmon Resonance of molecular transfer of a solid lubricant during sliding.
Utilizing an optical in situ microtribometer, we can explore the real area of contact and near contact surface topography of contacting surfaces; this technique has been used to visualize adhesive-elastic contact between a rigid sphere and a thin elastic foundation as well as randomly rough elastomer surface in contact with an infinitely stiff and flat (by comparison) surface. Similarly, an forward looking infrared (FLIR) microscope camera can reveal interface temperatures with microscopic resolutions. Finally, an in situ Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) tribometer is used to measure molecular-scale transfer of solid lubricants during sliding. For some systems, such as PTFE, transfer is detected as early as the first cycle of sliding, while minimal transfer is observed in other systems such as UHMWPE.