Adhesion and Contact Error in Length Metrology

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Abstract
An account is given of experimental studies of the nature of the strong adhesive contact between finely finished steel and glass surfaces when a trace of liquid exists between them. These surfaces are of the kind that are of practical use in length metrology where this adhesive action or ``wringing'' is of considerable importance. The dimensional effects of the thin film between the surfaces have been measured by multiple-beam interferometry and the nature of the adhesive contact has been further studied by measuring tangential forces and electrical characteristics. The experimental evidence suggests that there is no liquid film effectively separating the surfaces but that the strong adhesive action induced by the presence of the liquid introduces a dimensional contact error. This error is likely to be positive or negative, depending on the degree of contact between the surfaces. Provided the adhesion is good the contact error is not greater than ±0.01μ. Where such an error is undesirable in high precision length metrology it is better to avoid the use of this adhesive contact.

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