Behavior of the Elastomers Used in Prehension Systems for Small Cylindrical Objects

To use the elastomers as a interfacial surface in the prehension systems, the authors experimentally determined the elastic deformation and sliding friction of a plane elastomer sample in contact with small steel roller for normal loads up to maximum 9 N and linear speed of 0.1 mm/s. The experiments were realized on a Tribometer CETR UMT 2, by using two procedures: firstly was determined the Young’s modulus of the elastomer by indentation with a steel roller with normal loads between 1 and 9 N and secondly was determined the friction forces in sliding of the steel roller on elastomer sample with normal loads between 1 and 5 N. On contact surfaces was experimentally determined the total friction force including both elastic deformation force and sliding force. Also, an analytical model for friction force has been developed.