FRICTION AND WEAR OF RUBBER-LIKE MATERIALS

In this paper, the author describes his own investigations carried out at microscale level in order to scrutinize fundamental phenomena occurring inside both static and sliding contact areas between a single, hard, transparent, hemispherical asperity and a flat, smooth surface of a soft elastomer. Various mechanisms have been studied, such as adhesive contact, first stage of friction (preliminary displacement), friction at increasing sliding speed, stages of formation of reattachment folds (effect of the radius of curvature of the rigid slider), conditions for the appearance of Schallamach's waves and the onset of adhesive and abrasive wears, with rubber ligaments or engraved ridges formation, of various unfilled and filled rubber compounds.