Temperature distribution over contact area and “hot spots” in rubbing solid contact

Experiments intended to understand thermal phenomena in a sliding contact were performed and their results are presented. Asperities in contact were found to undergo the pulse effect of the temperature approaching the melting point of one of the friction members. It was noted that the temperature higher than the melting point can be generated in the sapphire–aluminium and sapphire–polyethylene pairs. Temperature distributions over both the contact area and the local heat source are considered.