Test Equipment and Measurement Instrument Blog

It may not capture the attention of the average motorist, but friction has a huge impact on the automotive industry—and even on the entire U.S. economy. Quality Magazine once reported that between the direct and consequential economic loss associated with friction and wear, this loss amounts to as much as 1 to 2 percent of the country’s entire annual GDP. 

Unless people who wear or use cosmetics are also actively involved in its development, chances are they don’t give much thought to the physics of makeup and other cosmetic products.

Is friction a factor of physics or chemistry? 

In short? It can be both. 

Scientists, engineers, and science-backed product developers know that the world of physics and chemistry are closely linked. Therefore the discussion of whether friction is more about physics or chemistry is much more nuanced than choosing one or the other—which means the friction and chemistry of a product or substance can influence the other as well.

Whether the common consumer realizes it or not, metal forming is something that impacts almost every part of their life. Of course, manufacturers use metal to build things like planes, trains, and automobiles that we use for travel and transport of goods, but it’s also used in nearly every room at home and at work. 

In many parts of the country, wintertime means icy temperatures, sleet, freezing rain and snow. And all of this weather can mean big trouble when it comes to friction. 

A tribometer may seem like an incredibly clinical tool; you might assume that a device designed to measure friction has little to do with the “real world.” In fact, tribometers aid in the development of many everyday items, ranging from eye drops to cars to stairs and ramps, making our world a safer place with each use.

Last time we talked about tribometers and how they're used to keep machinery and your employees safe. Below is a video demonstration some of the features of our H37 3D Portable Friction Tester.

Products and machines can wear, and then eventually wear out. Heavily used objects, like a safety strap, or the traction on a workboot can lose their friction, and eventually become slick or breaking. Additionally, the parts on a machine can wear as a result of too much friction, and the machinery can become dangerous. For these examples and many others, tribometers (friction meters) are an important way to maintain the proper amount of friction while still monitoring the amount of wear something has encountered.

When you apply skincare products, what sensory properties do you tend to notice or expect the product to deliver? A study by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science notes, “perceived skin feel during and after application of skin care products is highly important to the consumer and therefore to cosmetic formulators.” Cosmetic powders are often added to formulations in order to further improve their sensory perception and appeal.