Loading effect on friction behavior of ordered/disordered graphite in ambient and inert condition

Abstract

Load dependent friction behavior of structurally ordered and disordered graphite is measured in ambient and nitrogen gas atmosphere. Friction coefficient is significantly less in graphite in order as compared to disorder in ambient atmosphere. This behavior is attributed to structural defects in graphite lattice. However, under nitrogen gas, friction coefficient graphite is significantly high irrespective of structural order or disorder of graphite. This typical behavior is mainly attributed by chemical reactivity of graphite surface which is high in nitrogen gas and not much influenced by structural ordering/disordering. In both types of graphite, steep increase in friction coefficient is observed at high load. This is explained by reasonable increase in contact area and followed by the Johnson−Kendall−Roberts (JKR) model.