Time-dependent effects in surface forces

Recent studies employ the surface forces apparatus to measure shear and normal forces in molecularly thin films. Coming from these studies are several key results. Friction is related to adhesion hysteresis rather than adhesional force. The confinement-induced freezing of liquid films produces solids much softer than bulk glass. In systems of strongly adsorbed layers, friction depends on the degree of interpenetration. End-adsorbed polymer layers in good solvent reduce the effective viscosity of the solvent by orders of magnitude.