Friction Dynamics of Confined Weakly Adhering Boundary Layers

Abstract

The nanotribological behavior of self-assembled monolayers is investigated. The latter accommodate friction through transient relaxation and dilatancy effects whose kinetics depends on the structure of the confined layers. Thus, the molecular ordering onto the surfaces controls the level and the stability of the friction coefficient. Moreover, the behavior of these systems is theoretically accounted for using a model based on the kinetics of formation and rupture of adhesive bonds between the two shearing surfaces with an additional viscous term.