Tire Materials and How They Affect Friction: From Atoms to Surface Dynamics

Abstract

Friction is a resistive force between two surfaces that slide against each other. This experiment investigated how different materials affect frictional behavior on an imitation road surface. Rubber, ABS plastic, aluminum, and poplar were all dry-slid using a paver stone as a ramp to imitate asphalt. Each material was placed on top of the ramp. Then, the angle was increased until the sample moved. Additionally, the angle for the object to fall at a constant velocity was found. Each material was tested five times with two recorded angles for each trial. The values were then used to calculate friction coefficients. The results showed that rubber had a static friction coefficient of μ = 0.91, followed by wood at μ = 0.62, then plastic with μ = 0.47, and finally aluminum at μ = 0.30. Rubber also had the highest kinetic friction, due to its low hardness and loose molecular structure. Alternatively, aluminum displayed the lowest friction coefficient, even though it had the highest surface energy. This demonstrates that surface bonding alone does not have a large impact on frictional behavior. These findings show the importance of variables such as material roughness, composition, weight, hardness, and intermolecular bonding in friction. Additionally, this experiment depicts possibilities for tire applications. Wood is a possible alternative due to its stability and relatively high friction. Material weight and environmental variables were all controlled to better test properties as significant variables. The demonstrated results can influence environmentally friendly tire development, balancing frictional performance with sustainability.

Keywords: Friction, Coefficient of Friction, Molecular Structure, Intermolecular Bonding