Rolling Friction of Polymeric Materials. I. Elastomers

Abstract

Coefficients of friction for the rolling of steel balls on butyl, silicone and Neoprene elastomers have been measured in the temperature range of 25 to 100°C. For equivalent amounts of deformation rolling friction is directly proportional to dynamic mechanical losses measured by a rebound method. In addition, the coefficients of friction vary directly with (load)^⅓ and inversely with (ball radius)^⅔. These results are in agreement with recent theoretical predictions. The high mechanical losses and rolling friction for the butyl elastomer at 25°C drop sharply on increasing the temperature to 100°C. For the silicone and the Neoprene the losses and the friction decrease only slightly with increase in temperature.