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Material With Very Low Coefficient of Friction




Q. Hello Everybody,

I am looking for a material having the kinematic (dynamic) coefficient of material from 0.05-0.1 with NewsPrint.

So, if you can send this type of material, I am ready to order for it on the behalf of the department of OSU.

Thank you.

Rupesh

RUPESH GARG
- OSU, STILLWATER, Oklahoma
2001



First of two simultaneous responses--

A. The materials with lowest coefficients (<0.2) that I know are graphite, diamond-like-carbon (DLC) and diamond. There might be some other compounds. The coefficient also depends on the ambient gas, moisture and temperature conditions. DLC is a thin coating and not a block of solid.

Mandar Sunthankar
- Fort Collins, Colorado
2001



Second of two simultaneous responses--

A. Rupesh,

While you are looking for a surface with a low coefficient of friction, you will also need a surface with good wear resistance because of its contact with newsprint. I know of a metal coating which can be applied to metal surfaces which can achieve this coefficient of friction. This material is Electroless Nickel infused with Teflon. This combination of Nickel and Teflon gives great Wear Resistance and has a low coefficient of friction (I think it is about 0.06).

Tony D'Amato
- Chicopee, Massachusetts
2001


A. DEAR RUPESH:

I TEND TO AGREE MORE WITH TONY'S RESPONSE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH FROM THE THEORETICAL POINT OF VIEW GRAPHITE IS INDEED VERY SLIPPERY, IT WEARS OUT VERY FAST AND WILL STAIN OR CONTAMINATE MOST SURFACES IN CONTACT. WHEREAS DIAMOND AND DIAMOND-LIKE COATINGS WILL PROBABLY BE TECHNICALLY SUITABLE BUT EXPENSIVE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, NICKEL COMPOSITES WITH TEFLON OR WITH INORGANIC PARTICLES IS AFFORDABLE, WEAR RESISTANT AND WILL NOT LIKELY STAIN OR CONTAMINATE ANY SURFACE APPRECIABLY. IT CAN BE OBTAINED FROM SEVERAL SOURCES IN THE U.S.

ONE OF THEM IS SURFACE TECHNOLOGY, INC. IN TRENTON, NJ. UNDER THE NAME OF ELECTROLESS NICKEL 500 SERIES, OR NISLIP.

GOOD LUCK.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2001


A. In our powder coating facility we have used a product by Anzo-Nobel called XP666-7 that has a high teflon content and a very low coefficient of friction that we applied to some sheet metal plates that we produced for a Ink Jet Printer OEM. They come into contact with the printer paper and allow the paper to be driven over it by use of friction wheels. It is a powder that is applied with common electrostatic powder coating equipment and run through a curing oven at a temperature of 385 °F.

Jeffery P. Harris
- Means, Kentucky
2002


A. Hi, according to the National University of México, hard chrome has a friction coefficient of 2.0 when lubed and an abrasive wear of 2.0; 932 °F heat treated electroless nickel has a 0.25 FC and 2.7 in abrasive wear. There is a nickel-cobalt-boron alloy called DOX that can be electrodeposited, it has a 0.16 FC and a 1.09 abrasive wear. Of course teflon has a 0.04 FC, but wear abrasion is way too high.

Amilcar Alzaga
Metal Coating - Mexico City, México
2004



2004
7281

Thanks, Amilcar, but there is a typographical error there ; coefficients of friction are rarely higher than one, and hard chrome is rather slippery. Chromium on steel has been reported as ranging from 0.16 to about 0.2, dry, so that's probably what you meant. But in practice it's difficult to draw a clear line between dry coefficient and lubed coefficient of friction because it depends on configuration, and casual lubrication is so commonplace.

In plating school years ago an instructor brought in a hard chrome plated cone with a fine knurling, set it on its base on his desk, and defied any student to pick it up.

Naturally, with the low coefficient of friction, the unavoidable casual lubrication from your fingers, and the "squirting" action as you pressed your fingers on the cone, it was indeed impossible to pick up :-)

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey


A. With normal operating temperatures to 550 °F, Vespel is a polymide with the lowest coefficient of friction that I know of. GM is using it for bushings in the "A" arms of their Corvettes.
Easily machinable, it is easily the material of my choice.
Cons; This material is staggeringly expensive. ex; 1/4" dia. x 1" long rod is about $23.00.

Harry Hipomire
- Bristol, Connecticut
2006



Thanks Harry. I don't think it's the virgin Vespel per se that is so low friction, though. Rather, graphite, teflon, and molybdenum disulfide can be impregnated into it for extremely low friction.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 27, 2012



Q. Gentleman,

Looking about the "low friction materials" I wish to associate the aluminium and the Ertalon PLA6/ Nylatron. They are good in temperature and allow to slide under a reasonable resistance, but I haven't accurate data of coefficient of friction.
Thank you to propose something better and cheaper.
Regards, Stevan

Burik Stevan
hovercraft building - Baja, Bacs-Kishkun, Hungary
November 27, 2012




Cost of electroless nickel plating with occluded teflon particles

Q. I'm wondering if anyone can give me the cost for the plating Tony talked about. It's for a school project. Thanks.

Theo Sundqvist
- As, jamtland, sweden
May 26, 2014


A. Hi Theo. Most plating shops have a "lot" charge of $50-$200, and maybe a little more. There are no "standard" costs for plating because it depends on so many factors, leaving you with the option to request a quote, or guess. I'd guess that for electroless nickel plating with occluded teflon particles that $1 per square inch is as justifiable as any other guess :-)

But maybe a plating shop which offers the finish will chime in with a better guess. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
May 2014



Low friction texture chrome plating

November 1, 2016

Q. I am looking to know if anyone has experience with an optimum texture and material for a lowest (reasonably) possible coefficient of friction and excellent abrasion resistance. There will be a 1.5" steel round bar (or tube) with a thin (.0005"-.001") PET film at 180 degrees that will oscillate back and forth over the surface rapidly with a fairly low load.

I am thinking a hard chrome plating is the material of choice with perhaps a fine knurl or an abraded surface. Does anyone has experience with textures / finishes?

All thoughts would be appreciated

Thank you,

Dan

Dan Farrington
mech engineer - New Milford Connecticut
P.S. The above should read that the PET film has 180 degrees of wrap around the bar and is rapidly oscillated.

A. I would suggest bright nickel electroplating on mirror polished surface, with trivalent chromium top layer. If that doesn't give you a low enough friction consider topping it off with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating or a molybdenum disulfide PVD coating.

jim treglio portrait
Jim Treglio - scwineryreview.com
PVD Consultant & Wine Lover - San Diego,
California

November 2, 2016




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