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Superlubricity is an effect that has been already suggested in 1991 but has recently been measured with great accuracy between two graphite surfaces.
It describes the effect that friction can vanish almost completely even when two crystalline surfaces slide over each other in dry contact when there are in incommensurate contact.
The atoms in graphite are oriented in a hexagonal manner and form an atomic hill-and-valley landscape, which looks like an egg-crate. When the two graphite surfaces are in registry (every 60 degrees), the friction force is high but when the two surfaces are rotated out of registry the friction is largely reduced. This is like two egg-crates who can slide over each other more easily when they are twisted with respect to each other.
Note: The similarity of the term superlubricity with terms such as superconductivity and superfluidity is misleading since other energy dissipation mechanisms can lead to a finite (normally small) friction force.
External links
- Super Lubricity of Graphite (http://www.physics.leidenuniv.nl/sections/cm/ip/group/PDF/Phys.rev.lett/2004/92(2004)12601.pdf) (research paper in PDF format)
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