The Detection of Flash Temperatures in a Sliding Contact by the Method of Tribo-Induced Thermoluminescence

Abstract

A method is presented for measuring short duration flash temperatures in sliding contacts. The method uses a photomultiplier to collect photons emitted by a hot contact spot. The method was used to measure flash temperatures at the contact between a spherical sapphire slider and a rapidly moving thin film magnetic disk. It was found that temperature flashes of over 1000° C, lasting less than 2 μs, can occur at the sliding interface.