Adhesion and Friction

The details of the contact between two surfaces determine their interaction strength, adhesion, and the resistance against relative motion, the friction. Friction is estimated to be responsible for ∼20% of the world's energy consumption and is consequently relevant across a wide range of technologies and scientific disciplines, as is adhesion. However, predicting both friction and adhesion remains very difficult due to the interplay of many length scales. Recent developments in both experimental, numerical and theoretical approaches provide increasingly detailed information on the origins of friction and adhesion with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. This much improved understanding has also led to novel designs of interfaces and surfaces with specifically tailored properties. Notably, large progress has been made in the understanding of the role of water and humidity for adhesion and friction in biological and natural systems.

Guest Editors: Bo Persson, Daniel Bonn, Ali Dhinojwala, and Kathryn Wahl with JCP Editor Mischa Bonn