Active friction control strategies of interfaces for micro/nanoscale applications

COLL 26

Sriram Sundararajan, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 3036 H.M. Black Enigneering Bldg, Ames, IA 50011
The ability to actively control and modulate the tribological properties of an interface is a subject of great interest to micro/nanoscale systems. This talk presents tribological control involving “active” strategies characterized by the feature that, by some external stimuli, the tribological system is altered as desired. The tribological systems chosen are self-assembled monolayer (SAM) systems due to their wide use as molecular lubricants in micro- or nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) to minimize adhesion and friction. Friction and adhesion properties of alkane-thiol SAMs with end groups of varying dipole moments and thermo-sensitive polymers are studied using atomic force microscopy. The external stimuli used are electric fields and thermal energy. The effect of relative humidity on the active control schemes is also addressed. The study will aid in understanding of lubrication mechanisms at the molecular level and advance us towards realizing interfaces for active friction control.