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Friction 2014, 2(2): 182-192 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-014-0056-0
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 19 June 2014

Experimental advances in superlubricity

Show Author's Information Quanshui ZHENG1,2( ),  Ze LIU1
Department of Engineering Mechanics, CNMM, APL, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
National Key Lab of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Keywords:
Superlubicity, microscale, macroscale, ambient condition, mechanism
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ZHENG Q, LIU Z. Experimental advances in superlubricity. Friction, 2014, 2(2): 182-192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-014-0056-0
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Abstract Full text About this article

Superlubricity, or structural lubricity, is a state that has two contacting surfaces exhibiting no resistance to sliding. This effect has been theoretically described to be possible between two completely clean single crystalline solid surfaces. However, experimental observations of superlubricity were limited to nanoscale and under high vacuum or inert gas environments even after twenty years since the concept of superlubricity has been suggested in 1990. In the last two years, remarkable advances have been achieved in experimental observations of superlubricity ranging from micro-scale to centimeters and in ambient environment. This study aims to report a comprehensive understanding of the superlubricity phenomenon.


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About this article

Experimental advances in superlubricity

Show Author's information Quanshui ZHENG1,2( ), Ze LIU1
Department of Engineering Mechanics, CNMM, APL, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
National Key Lab of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Abstract

Superlubricity, or structural lubricity, is a state that has two contacting surfaces exhibiting no resistance to sliding. This effect has been theoretically described to be possible between two completely clean single crystalline solid surfaces. However, experimental observations of superlubricity were limited to nanoscale and under high vacuum or inert gas environments even after twenty years since the concept of superlubricity has been suggested in 1990. In the last two years, remarkable advances have been achieved in experimental observations of superlubricity ranging from micro-scale to centimeters and in ambient environment. This study aims to report a comprehensive understanding of the superlubricity phenomenon.

Keywords: Superlubicity, microscale, macroscale, ambient condition, mechanism

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Publication history

Received: 17 May 2014
Accepted: 10 June 2014
Published: 19 June 2014
Issue date: June 2014

Copyright

© The author(s) 2014

Acknowledgements

The financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No. 10832005) and the the National Key Basic Research (973) Program of China (Grants Nos. 2007CB936803 and 2013CB934200) are acknowledged.

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