Friction of the Human Finger Pad: Influence of Moisture, Occlusion and Velocity

The current paper describes an experimental study of the friction of the human finger pad. The data highlight the role of sweat secretion and contact occlusion in producing wide-ranging values for the coefficient of friction that are particularly sensitive to the tribological configuration, sliding velocity, surface roughness and porosity of the counterbody. In particular, the large coefficients of friction typically observed on dry smooth surfaces are associated with a relatively damp interface, and can be considerably reduced by either decreasing or increasing the interfacial moisture content or by surface roughening. It is concluded that the very large range in the values of the coefficient of friction reported in the literature mainly result from differences in occlusion time associated with different tribological configurations, as well as from variations in surface roughness and finger pad sweat rates.

[1]  P. Lefèvre,et al.  Moisture Evaluator: a direct measure of fingertip skin hydration during object manipulation , 2008, Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging.

[2]  A. Knowles,et al.  REVIEW ARTICLE: Aspects of physicochemical methods for the detection of latent fingerprints , 1978 .

[3]  Yoshihito Osada,et al.  Elastic-hydrodynamic transition of gel friction. , 2005, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[4]  S. E. Tomlinson,et al.  Understanding the Friction Mechanisms Between the Human Finger and Flat Contacting Surfaces in Moist Conditions , 2011 .

[5]  Derek G. Chetwynd,et al.  Quantifying touch–feel perception: tribological aspects , 2008 .

[6]  D. O'Meara,et al.  Functional handgrip test to determine the coefficient of static friction at the hand/handle interface , 2002, Ergonomics.

[7]  E. Bartick,et al.  Analysis of Latent Fingerprint Deposits by Infrared Microspectroscopy , 2004, Applied spectroscopy.

[8]  Matt Carré,et al.  Review of the frictional properties of finger-object contact when gripping , 2007 .

[9]  H. Edwards,et al.  The detection of drugs of abuse in fingerprints using Raman spectroscopy I: latent fingerprints. , 2004, Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy.

[10]  Brian J. Briscoe,et al.  Tribology in Particulate Technology , 1987 .

[11]  Philippe Lefèvre,et al.  Measurement and Influence of the Skin Moisture in Dexterous Manipulation , 2008, EuroHaptics.

[12]  R. Wildnauer,et al.  The mechanical properties of stratum corneum. I. The effect of water and ambient temperature on the tensile properties of newborn rat stratum corneum. , 1975, Biochimica et biophysica acta.

[13]  Sadao Kawamura,et al.  Analysis of friction on human fingers and design of artificial fingers , 1996, Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

[14]  M. Chaudhury,et al.  The Effects of Molecular Weight and Temperature on the Kinetic Friction of Silicone Rubbers , 2003 .

[15]  Christine L. MacKenzie,et al.  The Grasping Hand , 2011, The Grasping Hand.

[16]  Klaus-Peter Wilhelm,et al.  Bioengineering of the skin : skin surface imaging and analysis , 1997 .

[17]  A. Schallamach.  A theory of dynamic rubber friction , 1963 .

[18]  K. Kwiatkowski,et al.  Friction and deformation behaviour of human skin , 2009 .

[19]  A V Rawlings,et al.  Measuring the effects of topical moisturizers on changes in stratum corneum thickness, water gradients and hydration in vivo , 2008, The British journal of dermatology.

[20]  B Henson,et al.  A novel tactile sensation measurement system for qualifying touch perception , 2010, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine.

[21]  A. Kappers,et al.  Tactile perception of thermal diffusivity , 2009, Attention, perception & psychophysics.

[22]  L. Sirota,et al.  Skin Barrier Properties in Different Body Areas in Neonates , 2000, Pediatrics.

[23]  S. J. Calabrese,et al.  Some parameters affecting tactile friction , 1991 .

[24]  W. D. Winter,et al.  The Palmar Sweat Print: A Methodological Study , 1963, Psychosomatic medicine.

[25]  Brian J. Briscoe,et al.  The friction and lubrication of human stratum corneum. , 1993 .

[26]  K. Kyogoku,et al.  Theoretical model for adhesive friction between elastomers and rough solid surfaces. , 2010, The Journal of chemical physics.

[27]  Kazumi Kobayashi,et al.  Relationship between the Structure of Human Finger Tissue and the Location of Tactile Receptors , 1998 .

[28]  David J. Whitehouse,et al.  Handbook of Surface Metrology , 2023 .

[29]  F. X. Li,et al.  Use of ‘chalk’ in rock climbing: sine qua non or myth? , 2001, Journal of sports sciences.

[30]  Maiju Aikala,et al.  Tactile perception : Finger friction, surface roughness and perceived coarseness , 2011 .

[31]  Jung-Chi Liao.  Experimental investigation of frictional properties of the human fingerpad , 1998 .

[32]  Rémi Deterre,et al.  Heat perception measurements of the different parts found in a car passenger compartment , 2004 .

[33]  Ning Pan,et al.  Skin friction blistering: computer model , 2007, Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging.

[34]  K. A. Grosch,et al.  The relation between the friction and visco-elastic properties of rubber , 1963, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

[35]  A Knüttel,et al.  Thickness of the stratum corneum of the volar fingertips , 2000, Clinical anatomy.

[36]  A-L Krogstad,et al.  Patients with hyperhidrosis have changed grip force, coefficient of friction and safety margin , 2008, Acta neurologica Scandinavica.

[37]  A. M. Smith,et al.  Subjective scaling of smooth surface friction. , 1996, Journal of neurophysiology.

[38]  N. Heglund,et al.  Sweating on paws and palms: what is its function? , 1975, The American journal of physiology.

[39]  A. I. Leonov,et al.  On the theory of the adhesive friction of elastomers , 1986 .

[40]  D. Tabor,et al.  Shear Properties of Thin Polymeric Films , 1978 .

[41]  A. Adler,et al.  Liquid Transport in the Networked Microchannels of the Skin Surface , 2003 .

[42]  Matt Carré,et al.  Understanding the effect of finger–ball friction on the handling performance of rugby balls , 2009 .

[43]  Thomas J. Armstrong,et al.  A comparison of two methods of measuring static coefficient of friction at low normal forces: a pilot study , 2009, Ergonomics.

[44]  E. Marín,et al.  The role of thermal properties in periodic time-varying phenomena , 2007 .

[45]  Maiju Aikala,et al.  Finger Friction Measurements on Coated and Uncoated Printing Papers , 2010 .

[46]  C. Caroli,et al.  Frictional dissipation and interfacial glass transition of polymeric solids. , 2006, Physical review letters.

[47]  A. M. Smith,et al.  Scopolamine increases prehensile force during object manipulation by reducing palmar sweating and decreasing skin friction , 1997, Experimental Brain Research.

[48]  P Lefèvre,et al.  Fingertip moisture is optimally modulated during object manipulation. , 2010, Journal of neurophysiology.

[49]  Roger Lewis,et al.  Improving the Understanding of Grip , 2007 .

[50]  Mark Gee,et al.  A new friction measurement system for the frictional component of touch , 2005 .

[51]  D. Tabor,et al.  The friction and lubrication of polymers , 1966, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

[52]  Motoji Takahashi,et al.  In vivo estimation of stratum corneum thickness from water concentration profiles obtained with Raman spectroscopy. , 2007, Acta dermato-venereologica.

[53]  S. Derler,et al.  Friction of human skin against smooth and rough glass as a function of the contact pressure , 2009 .

[54]  Thilo Gambichler,et al.  Applications of optical coherence tomography in dermatology. , 2005, Journal of dermatological science.

[55]  T J Armstrong.  Mechanical considerations of skin in work. , 1985, American journal of industrial medicine.

[56]  Brian J. Briscoe,et al.  Friction and lubrication of human skin , 2007 .

[57]  H. Bruining,et al.  In vivo confocal Raman microspectroscopy of the skin: noninvasive determination of molecular concentration profiles. , 2001, The Journal of investigative dermatology.

[58]  H. I. Maibach,et al.  Tribology of skin , 2006 .

[59]  David Tabor,et al.  The friction and visco-elastic properties of polymeric solids , 1966 .

[60]  G. Szabó.  The regional anatomy of the human integument with special reference to the distribution of hair follicles, sweat glands and melanocytes , 1967, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences.

[61]  Vera Rogiers,et al.  EEMCO Guidance for the Assessment of Transepidermal Water Loss in Cosmetic Sciences , 2001, Skin Pharmacology and Physiology.

[62]  G. Kasting,et al.  Mobility of water in human stratum corneum. , 2003, Journal of pharmaceutical sciences.

[63]  C Drummond,et al.  Friction between two weakly adhering boundary lubricated surfaces in water. , 2003, Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics.

[64]  Mariko Egawa,et al.  Changes in the depth profile of water in the stratum corneum treated with water , 2009, Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging.

[65]  B. Persson,et al.  Capillary adhesion between elastic solids with randomly rough surfaces , 2008, 0805.0684.

[66]  Jason R. Stokes,et al.  Soft-tribology : Lubrication in a compliant PDMS-PDMS contact , 2007 .

[67]  T. Agner,et al.  Guidelines for transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement , 1990, Contact dermatitis.

[68]  A. Buguin,et al.  Stick-Slip: Wet Versus Dry , 2007 .

[69]  B N J Persson,et al.  On the transition from boundary lubrication to hydrodynamic lubrication in soft contacts , 2009, Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal.

[70]  A. R. Ennos,et al.  Fingerprints are unlikely to increase the friction of primate fingerpads , 2009, Journal of Experimental Biology.

[71]  Matt Carré,et al.  The effect of normal force and roughness on friction in human finger contact , 2009 .

[72]  D. Dowson,et al.  Bio-tribology and bio-mimetics in the operating environment , 2006 .

[73]  B N J Persson,et al.  Wet adhesion with application to tree frog adhesive toe pads and tires , 2007 .

[74]  Howard I Maibach,et al.  Tribological testing of skin products: gender, age, and ethnicity on the volar forearm , 2003, Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging.

[75]  S. E. Franklin,et al.  Influence of Surface Roughness, Material and Climate Conditions on the Friction of Human Skin , 2010 .

[76]  S. Derler,et al.  Tribology of human skin and mechanical skin equivalents in contact with textiles , 2007 .

[77]  Maximum-Intensity-Projection Imaging for Dynamic Analysis of Mental Sweating by Optical Coherence Tomography , 2008 .

[78]  N. Spencer,et al.  Study of skin–fabric interactions of relevance to decubitus: friction and contact‐pressure measurements , 2007, Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging.

[79]  Manoj Misra,et al.  Advances in the Materials Science of Skin: A Composite Structure with Multiple Functions , 2007 .

[80]  Klaus-Peter Wilhelm,et al.  Assessment of human stratum corneum thickness and its barrier properties by in‐vivo confocal Raman spectroscopy , 2009 .

[81]  H. Eyring.  Viscosity, Plasticity, and Diffusion as Examples of Absolute Reaction Rates , 1936 .

[82]  J. Thonnard,et al.  A continuous measure of fingertip friction during precision grip , 2009, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.