Work of adhesion and mechanical contact strength change of the metals of the Ib subgroup of the Periodic Table to the diamond

Abstract

Mechanical contact strength (MCS) between solidified metal drops of Cu, Ag, Au and diamond were measured. The work of adhesion for the same systems was calculated using data on observed contact angles of Cu, Ag, Au on the diamond and literature data for the metal surface tensions. Non-monotonic changes of the work of adhesion and MCS were observed within Ib subgroup metals with increase of serial metal number in the Periodic Table. Results are discussed on the basis of classic London equation for the energy of vdv bond for two atoms.