Experimental Study on Friction Properties of Rubber Material: Influence of Surface Roughness on Sliding Friction

This study investigated the influence of the surface roughness of rubber on sliding friction. The friction was measured by using textured specimens and plain (non-textured) specimens. Under a dry condition, the textured specimens, whose contact area was smaller than that of the plain ones, showed low coefficients of friction. Under a lubricated condition, the coefficients of friction of the textured specimens were higher in a low speed region, but those were lower in a higher speed region. Therefore, the lubrication conditions should be considered in the application of the texturing on rubber surface.