Frictional Properties of Rubber

Abstract

Abstract Laboratory measurements of coefficients of friction of soft rubber compounds were made by towing specimens on horizontal tracks and by allowing them to slide down inclined tracks. The specimens were prepared by attaching the rubber to a metal backing and molding it against glass surfaces having different degrees of roughness. The coefficients increase markedly with speed, ranging from about 1 at 10−4 cm. per sec. to more than 4 at 5 cm. per sec. The occurrence of vibrations prevented observations at higher speeds. Static friction is greater than dynamic friction for speeds appreciably less than 10−3 cm. per sec. and less than dynamic friction for greater speeds. The coefficients decrease slightly with increasing pressures and are independent of the size of the specimen. Except at very low speeds the smoother surfaces yield the higher coefficients. Materials such as talc or bloom on the sliding surfaces cause large decreases in the coefficients. Attention is called to the dependence of the coefficients of friction on the speed, which is shown in several previous investigations on rubber and other materials.