Coefficient of friction of fabrics

Abstract

This paper describes a simple method for specifying the slipperiness of fabrics, by measurement of the coefficient of friction between two pieces of the same material. A block covered with a sample of the fabric to be tested is placed on an inclined plane which is covered with another piece of the same fabric. The angle between the inclined plane and the horizontal is then increased to a value at which the block just begins to slide. Owing to a rearrangement of the fibers in the surfaces of the fabric this minimum angle decreases with successive slides. A number of slides are, therefore, made until a constant limiting angle is found. The tangent of this limiting angle is defined as the coefficient of friction for the fabric. Some applications of this measurement are mentioned, and illustrative results are given.