AbstractSputtered MoS2 coatings have been mostly used as a solid lubricant. In this investigation, MoSx/Ni composite coatings with Ni contents varying from 0 to 22 % were deposited onto steel substrate using a DC magnetron sputter process. The MoS2/Ni ratio in the coatings was controlled by sputtering the composite targets. The composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the...

Recent research on friction in robot joints and transmission systems has considered meshing friction a position-dependent friction component. However, in this paper we show experimental evidence that meshing friction depends highly on joint speed. We identify the meshing friction in the gearboxes of a robotic leg, and we propose a new mathematical model that considers the rate dependency of mes...

The impressively low friction and wear of diamond in humid environments is debated to originate from either the stability of the passivated diamond surface or sliding-induced graphitization/rehybridization of carbon. We find ultralow friction and wear for ultrananocrystalline diamond surfaces even in dry environments, and observe negligible rehybridization except for a modest, submonolayer amou...

In rehabilitation training, high-fidelity simulation environments are needed for reproducing the effects of slippery surfaces, in which potential balance failure conditions can be reproduced on demand. Motivated by these requirements, this article considers the design of variable-friction devices for use in the context of human walking on surfaces in which the coefficient of friction can be con...

In the present work, it is shown that the friction stress of ethylene glycol can decrease by an order of magnitude to achieve superlubricity if there are hydrogen ions attached on the friction surfaces. An ultra-low friction coefficient (μ = 0.004) of ethylene glycol between Si3N4 and SiO2 can be obtained with the effect of hydrogen ions. Experimental result indicates that the hydrogen ions ads...

Standing and walking generate information about friction underfoot. Five experiments examined whether walkers use such perceptual information for prospective control of locomotion. In particular, do walkers integrate information about friction underfoot with visual cues for sloping ground ahead to make adaptive locomotor decisions? Participants stood on low-, medium-, and high-friction surfaces...