Theory 21/Nanoscale/Nanotribology
Friction Follows the Lattice
The claim
Friction at a nanocontact is set by the ratio of contact size to lattice constant, so contacts smaller than a few lattice spacings become superlubric.
01Mechanism
Commensurability between surfaces determines energy barriers to sliding; a contact spanning few atoms cannot support the collective stick-slip.
02Prediction
Friction should collapse below a size ratio.
03Refutation
Friction tracking load would remove commensurability.