Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Science Friction

Yes, I admit it. I chose to post a link to this article just so I could use that headline.

Towards frictionless nanomachines (nanotechweb.org)

Friction is a big problem in nanosized devices because they have huge surface-to-volume ratios, which means that their surfaces quickly wear out and seize up. Traditional lubricants are useless in such machines because they become thick and sticky when confined in tiny enclosed spaces. Scientists therefore need to learn how to conquer friction if nano- and microscale devices are ever to become a commercial reality. More here

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