Frictional effect of spherical convex textured rigid bodies sliding on smooth PDMS

Surface texturing was applied to flexible friction couples to improve their tribological behavior. Spherical convex texture was fabricated on the surface of photosensitive resin by stereolithography (SLA), the friction coefficient between the textured resin sample and smooth polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) under the conditions of low sliding speed and dry friction was measured using a self-made frictional test bench. It was found that surface texture is capable of reducing friction at low applied normal load compared with the non textured friction couple, as well as increasing friction at high load, in addition, smaller texture radii tend to increase friction. At last, the friction mechanism of the textured flexible friction couple was discussed by establishing a mechanical model.