An energy consumption model based on the electron work function and Fermi energy for predicting adhesion and low-load friction between 3d transition metals

The friction between 3d transition metals under light loads was investigated for friction prediction and control in micro- and nano-devices. Attempts were made to correlate the light-load friction to surface electron behavior and mechanical properties. An energy consumption friction (ECF) model for light-load contact was proposed to calculate friction coefficients of different metals in contact. This model assumes elastic contact between two metals in contact and the calculation includes adhesion energy and deformation energy when the two metals slide on each other. It was demonstrated that friction coefficients of 3d transition metals in contact with Zn predicted using the model was consistent with experimental observations under low contact loads. The study showed that adhesion dominated friction under light loads.