Torque and twist against superlubricity.
Superlubricity between incommensurate surfaces provides a desired low-friction state essential for the function of small-scale machines. Here we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that superlubricity in contacts lubricated by lamellar solids might be eliminated due to torque-induced reorientation coupled to lateral motion. We find that the possibility of reorientation always leads to stabilization of a high frictional state which corresponds to a commensurate configuration.
Filippov
Alexander E
AE
Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering of NASU, 83144, Donetsk, Ukraine.
Dienwiebel
Martin
M
Frenken
Joost W M
JW
Klafter
Joseph
J
Urbakh
Michael
M