Influence of Chemisorbed Films of Various Gases on Adhesion and Friction of Tungsten

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Abstract
An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of various absorbed gaseous species on the adhesion and friction of tungsten. Experiments were conducted in a vacuum of 10−10 Torr with a hemispherical rider specimen [(100) tungsten] contacting a flat. The atomic planes of tungsten examined on the flat included the (100), (110), and the (210). The gases absorbed to these tungsten surfaces included hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and a homologous series of hydrocarbons (methane through decane), as well as ethylene and acetylene. The resùlts of the study indicate that the presence of any gas, even hydrogen, on the tungsten surface will reduce adhesion and friction. Less than a monolayer of oxygen adsorbed on tungsten is sufficient to reduce appreciably the friction of tungsten crystals. For hydrocarbons an increase in chain length (methane through decane) resulted in a progressive decrease in friction. Furthermore, with ethane, ethylene, and acetylene, friction decreased with an increase in the number of carbon-to-carbon bonds.

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