Friction Reduction by Micro-Textured Surfaces in Lubrication.

Experimental investigations were carried out to verify if the friction reduction in lubrication can be expanded by a textured surface with sawtooth riblets. Sawtooth riblets were formed by ultraprecision diamond cutting, with a ridge angle of about 60 degrees-90 degrees and height of about 20-50 mu m on the contact surface. Six types of textured surfaces with different ridge angles, heights, and sliding directions were tested and compared with the untextured surface. The tribological tests were conducted by a flat-on-flat tribometer in lubrication. The effects of the ridge angle, height, and relative sliding direction on the friction coefficient in lubrication were reported.