The wear kinetics of NaCl under dry nitrogen and at low humidities

doi:10.1016/j.cplett.2005.05.060

Chemical Physics Letters

Volume 410, Issues 1–3, 10 July 2005, Pages 151-155

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2005.05.060 Get rights and content

Abstract

NaCl step edges are worn under repetitive scanning by an atomic force microscope tip. The change in the wear rate when either the mechanical load on the tip or the NaCl substrate temperature is changed is well described by a thermal activation model. Two principal kinetic parameters, the activation volume and the activation energy, are extracted. The effect of low relative humidities on wear is also studied. It is found that at relative humidities (RH) less than ∼12%, the wear rate was enhanced with respect to wear under dry nitrogen. At RH > 12%, the wear rate is suppressed.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledge the fruitful discussions with Kathy Wahl and Lloyd Whitman, experimental assistance by Jennifer Sullivan, instrumental support from AFOSR, and financial support from ONR.

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Published by Elsevier B.V.

The wear kinetics of NaCl under dry nitrogen and at low humidities

Abstract

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

Surf. Sci.

Surf. Sci.

J. Colloids Interface Sci.

Phys. Status Solidi A

Handbook of micro/nano tribology

J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A

Appl. Phys. Lett.

J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A

Nanotechnology

Contact adhesion and rupture of elastic solids

Tribol. Lett.

Phys. Rev. Lett.

Phys. Rev. Lett.

J. Appl. Phys.