1. | Jarząbek D.M., Gwiazda M.♦, Dera W., The Influence of Alkali Metal Chloride Treatments on the Wear Resistance of Silicon Surfaces for Possible Use in MEMS, TRIBOLOGY TRANSACTIONS, ISSN: 1040-2004, DOI: 10.1080/10402004.2017.1296211, Vol.61, No.1, pp.178-184, 2018Abstract:The wear of contacting silicon surfaces in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) has been a longstanding concern. To address this issue, the effects of immersing silicon surfaces into alkali metal chloride solutions (LiCl, NaCl, CsCl) on their sliding friction and wear were investigated. A custom-built reciprocating tribometer was used with a sapphire ball as the counterbody. Results indicated that the friction coefficient between the silicon surface (p-doped, orientation (100)) and a sapphire ball can be reduced by up to 30% by treating the silicon surfaces in aqueous salt solutions (concentration 1 mol/L, exposure for 24 h). These modified surfaces also have higher wear resistance and a significant change in wettability. After immersion, the contact angle between the silicon surface and water was reduced by approximately 50%. These results may lead to new, simple, and inexpensive methods to increase the wear resistance of silicon surfaces for use in MEMs devices. Keywords:silicon surface, wear, friction, alkali metal chlorides Affiliations:Jarząbek D.M. | - | IPPT PAN | Gwiazda M. | - | Warsaw University of Technology (PL) | Dera W. | - | IPPT PAN |
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