High friction on ice provided by elastomeric fiber composites with textured surfaces

• Published in: Applied physics letters 2015-03, Vol.106 (11)
• Main Authors: Rizvi, R., Naguib, H., Fernie, G., Dutta, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied physics; Automotive parts; Coefficient of friction; Composite materials; Elastomers; Fiber composites; Footwear; Friction; Glass; Melting points; Polymer matrix composites; Polyurethane resins; Rubber; Traffic accidents
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4913676

Two main applications requiring high friction on ice are automobile tires and footwear. The main motivation behind the use of soft rubbers in these applications is the relatively high friction force generated between a smooth rubber contacting smooth ice. Unfortunately, the friction force between rubber and ice is very low at temperatures near the melting point of ice and as a result we still experience automobile accidents and pedestrian slips and falls in the winter. Here, we report on a class of compliant fiber-composite materials with textured surfaces that provide outstanding coefficients of friction on wet ice. The fibrous composites consist of a hard glass-fiber phase reinforcing a compliant thermoplastic polyurethane matrix. The glass-fiber phase is textured such that it is aligned transversally and protruding out of the elastomer surface. Our analysis indicates that the exposed fiber phase exhibits a “micro-cleat” effect, allowing for it to fracture the ice and increase the interfacial contact area thereby requiring a high force to shear the interface.