Electromagnetic effects on the friction and wear of solid-solid interface

This paper presents the state-of-the-art of recent investigations on the friction and wear behavior of some solid interfaces in a magnetic field or electric current environment. The tribometers used for study of electromagnetic effect on friction and wear are introduced. The experimental results of the variation of coefficient of friction and wear rate for magnetic and nonmagnetic materials and materials with varying electrical conductivities are summarized. It is found that both magnetic field and electric current have significant influence on the friction and wear of these materials. The magnetic and electrical properties of sliding couples control the friction and wear in response to applied magnetic field and electric current, respectively. Relevant mechanisms and observations are also reported in the paper.