Electric field effect on the friction of a polyethylene-terpolymer film on a steel substrate

Abstract Friction properties of polyethylene-terpolymer films rubbing on a steel substrate have been examined as a function of the electric field effect. It appears clearly that adhesion at the interface is modified by the presence of the field. This leads to an increase of the friction coefficient in presence of a negative applied voltage between the film and the steel substrate and the reverse in presence of a positive electric field.