Friction Force Microscopy

Abstract

This chapter introduces Friction Force Microscopy, which is possibly the most important experimental technique in nanotribology. In spite of the apparent simplicity of this technique, a special care is required in the calibration of the force sensors, as discussed in the chapter.Wewill also present a fewkey results on the load, material and temperature dependence of friction. The chapter ends with an overview on dynamic measurements of friction, in which the probing tip is oscillated laterally while sliding in contact with the sample surface or even while translating at very close distance from it.