Help with high friction material choice

AI Thread Summary
High friction material combinations are sought for a pressing application involving two flat parts, requiring lightweight, rigid, and wear-resistant materials. Current experimentation includes polycarbonate with sandpaper and rubber, but improvements are needed. Suggestions include automotive clutch plate materials or industrial-grade Velcro for repositionability. The required friction coefficient is discussed, with calculations indicating that a coefficient of 0.5 could provide sufficient resistance against sliding forces. Resources like McMaster-Carr offer various friction materials that could meet these needs.
DucemBarr
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Howdy!
Could anyone advise on some high friction material combination ? I can't disclose full details of the application, but basically two flat parts a pressed together and force is applied along the plane of the joint. The pieces are about 4 square in, the force applied about 100 psi Materials or coatings have to be reasonably light and rigid and wear resistant. I started playing with two pieces of polycarbonate one has 220 grit sand paper glued on the other has 1/32" rubber glued on works OK but could use improvement .
Any help beyond appreciated!
 
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Machine interlocking groves and slots in two metal plates.
 
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CWatters said:
Machine interlocking groves and slots in two metal plates.
Unfortunately plates cannot be indexed in one position. I have to be able to reposition them easily
 
Welcome to the PF. :smile:
DucemBarr said:
some high friction material combination
Have you looked at automotive clutch plate materials? Maybe drag racers use higher friction versions to handle the high horsepower transfer...
 
DucemBarr said:
Unfortunately plates cannot be indexed in one position. I have to be able to reposition them easily

Wouldn't be limited to one position but perhaps not an infinite number of positions. Perhaps any position +/- 2mm ? Perhaps too coarse?
 
I am only half joking...velcro? The industrial stuff is pretty cool.
 
How much friction do you need? You specified 16 square inches and 100 PSI, that's 1600 lbs of clamping force. A pad with a friction coefficient of 0.5 would not slide until the sliding force exceeded 0.5 X 1600 = 800 lbs. The sliding force would be less if the force was not applied in line with the center of the pad.

McMaster-Carr sells friction material in various sizes, thicknesses, and friction coefficients: https://www.mcmaster.com/brakes.
 
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