Sliding friction at soft micropatterned elastomer interfaces

Abstract

In this paper, we present an experimental study of the friction between a smooth elastomer lens and an elastomer substrate micropatterned with hexagonal arrays of cylindrical pillars. Depending on the normal load, the surfaces can be in top or mixed contact. The friction force can be interpreted in terms of friction stresses in the full contact and top contact zones. The latter is higher than that on smooth surfaces evidencing the role of the elastic deformations of the surfaces in the dissipation processes.