Controlling the friction properties of rubber-sphere on rubber-coated-plane contacts: effect of the coating thickness

摘要

We present an experimental investigation of the changes in friction at the contact between a rubber sphere and a glass plate coated with a rubber film of variable thickness. We show that the coating plays a key role in the rupture properties of the contact interface: variations of the static friction coefficient by a factor of three are observed when the thickness is varied. Some interpretations are discussed involving especially the viscoelasticity of the rubber.