A bumpy surface might make sliding smoother, not rougher, a physics study hints
Scientists found that when the squeezing force between two crystal surfaces is strongest in the middle and fades to zero at the edges, the surfaces can slide with even less friction. They showed this with mathematics and computer simulations of tiny sliding chains.
Why it matters
Friction wastes huge amounts of energy in engines and machines. For years, researchers thought nearly frictionless sliding only worked on perfectly flat surfaces made in a lab. This work suggests gently curved, more realistic surfaces might also work, which could one day help build low-friction parts. But this is only math and computer models, not a real device, so real materials may behave differently.
Who's behind it: Melisa M. Gianetti and colleagues, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and partners. Funded by the European Union's HORIZON EIC Pathfinder programme.
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