The Lubrication by Thin Metallic Films and the Action of Bearing Metals

Abstract

An investigation has been made of the role of thin metallic films in reducing the friction and wear between metal surfaces. It is shown that with metallic films possessing suitable mechanical and surface properties the coefficient of friction is very low and may be similar to that observed on ice. In many cases the behavior of these thin metallic films resembles that of ordinary lubricants except that Amontons' law is not obeyed. The friction and wear properties of some copper‐lead alloys have been studied and the results indicate that the lead in the alloy is extruded during sliding and forms a thin lubricating film on the hard copper matrix. It is suggested that these metallic films play an important part in the action of many bearing alloys.