The Influence of the Atomic Nature of Crystalline Materials on Friction

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Abstract
The arrangement of atoms in crystalline materials is discussed with reference to lattice, planes, and crystal structure. The effect of atomic structure is considered in terms of its influence on mechanical properties with particular emphasis an those related to friction, namely deformation and shear. Friction data are presented for body-centered cubic, face-centered cubic and hexagonal metals, as well as for crystals of inorganic compounds. The data were primarily obtained in a vacuum environment where the effects of material structure on friction could be measured without the presence of contaminating surface films. The friction results presented are for various planes and for various directions on the planes of single crystals. Data are also presented to show the relation of observation with single crystals to those with polycrystalline materials. The data indicate that friction is anisotropic and is generally lowest on the greatest atomic density planes of crystalline materials when sliding in the direction of most closely packed planes. This relation appears to hold for many crystals of inorganic compounds as well as for various crystal forms of metals. Crystal structure, recrystallization, and surface texturing as well as ordering of atoms in alloys are all shown to exert an influence on friction.

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