An investigation of human palmar skin friction and the effects of materials, pinch force and moisture

A study was conducted to determine the friction characteristics for various materials against human palmar skin. Seven materials were tested using two pinch-force levels under both moist and dry conditions. Using a two-fingered pinch grip, subjects held a specially designed dynamometer covered with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ergonomics 1988-03, Vol.31 (3), p.317-325
Main Authors: BUCHHOLZ, BRYAN, FREDERICK, LINDA J., ARMSTRONG, THOMAS J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Applied physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Friction
Hand - physiology
Handles
Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology
Humans
Male
Materials Testing
Medical sciences
Reference Values
Skin
Skin Physiological Phenomena
Space life sciences
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Summary:A study was conducted to determine the friction characteristics for various materials against human palmar skin. Seven materials were tested using two pinch-force levels under both moist and dry conditions. Using a two-fingered pinch grip, subjects held a specially designed dynamometer covered with one of the test materials. They maintained a constant pinch force as load force was increased at a constant rate until the dynamometer slipped from their fingers. The load force at the slip point was then used to determine the coefficient of friction from Amonton's Law. The effects of subject, material, moisture, pinch force and the material-moisture and pinch force-moisture interactions were all significant. The coefficient of friction decreased with increased levels of pinch force for every material-moisture combination. The coefficient of friction for porous materials showed a significant increase when moisture was present. This information may be applicable in tool handle and work station surface design.
ISSN:0014-0139
1366-5847
DOI:10.1080/00140138808966676