Surface energy of complex – and simple – metallic compounds as derived from friction test in vacuum

Abstract

This article attempts to understand better the origin of low friction and zero solid–solid adhesion observed on quasicrystals placed in vacuum. We present an ensemble of experimental data that allows us on the one hand to estimate the true surface energy of unoxidized quasicrystals and approximants and on the other hand to point out a correlation with electronic densities of states.

Acknowledgements

The present work was supported by ‘ERT Quasicristaux Industriels’ from French Ministry of Research and Technology and by Growth 2000 project ‘Smart Quasicrystals’ of the European Union under contract no. G5RD-CT-2001-00584. We are grateful to M. Feuerbacher, Juelich, for providing single domain specimens.