Continuous Heat Generation during Polymer Friction: Aperiodic Conformational Fluctuations of Molecular Chains

The accumulation of frictional heat significantly influences the tribological properties of polymeric materials. However, the microscopic mechanism underlying its generation remains unclear, which poses a major obstacle to the investigation and development of polymer-based friction materials. To address this, we investigated the frictional heating behavior of polymers using molecular dynamics simulations. The results reveal that the conversion between potential and kinetic energy, driven by the aperiodic conformational fluctuations of polymer molecular chains, contributes to the continuous generation of frictional heat. Building on this finding, we further examined the microscopic mechanisms by which various friction conditions─namely, sliding velocity, contact pressure, and ambient temperature─affect thermogenesis. This study not only establishes a theoretical foundation for the design and development of advanced polymer friction materials but also offers potential insights for the development of thermal management strategies in polymer-based friction systems.