A. Breki and M. Nosonovsky “”Ultraslow frictional sliding and the stick-slip transition,” Appl. Phys Lett. 113 (24) 241602 (2018) DOI: 10.1063/1.5064820
In this paper, we study friction at a very low velocity (37 nm/s), so that we have, in a sense, an intermediate state between the static and kinetic friction (or between the rest and motion – isn’t it fascinating, especially when you think about all discussions of medieval scholastic philosophers on the nature of motion vs. rest!?).

A tribometer called MTBM, specially designed and built by my colleague and coauthor, Dr. Alexander Breki, was used. This is the first result obtained with this new piece of equipment, we plan to continue this research. The material used in the experiments was also very unusual, two steel Johansson gauge blocks, which are so smooth that they stick together, when you rub them against each other. Nobody has ever measured friction between two “Jo blocks” before.

The ultraslow sliding friction tribometer MTBM.

Friction force drop at the onset of sliding for the loads of (a) 40 N, (b) 50 N, (c) 60 N, and (d) 70 N.