Static and Kinetic Friction Testing

Introduction to friction in material science

Friction is a critical factor in how materials behave under movement. It is the resistive force that occurs when two surfaces are in contact and attempt to slide against each other. Understanding and measuring friction is essential in material testing as it directly influences product performance, manufacturing reliability, and automation efficiency.

There are two key types of friction:

Static friction – the force required to initiate motion between two surfaces
Kinetic friction – the force needed to maintain motion once movement begins

Accurate measurement of both types enables engineers to optimise material behaviour in applications such as packaging, transportation, and assembly. For example, excessive static friction in a packaging line may cause feed errors, while inconsistent kinetic friction can result in uneven throughput.

See how friction testing improves packaging performance

Methods for measuring coefficient of friction

The most widely adopted technique for measuring both static and kinetic coefficients of friction (COF) is the horizontal plane method. In this method, a sled of known mass is drawn across a flat surface under controlled load and speed. The peak force registered corresponds to static friction, and the average force during motion indicates kinetic friction.

This approach ensures high repeatability through strict control of:

Sled mass and surface material
Pulling speed
Environmental conditions

Other methods, such as inclined plane or rotary drum techniques, exist but are less commonly used in standardised industrial applications.

Explore the FPT-H1 friction tester

Standards for friction testing

Mecmesin systems comply with a range of international standards to ensure consistency and comparability of results:

ASTM D1894 – Measures static and kinetic COF of plastic films and sheeting
BS EN ISO 8295 – Specifies test method conditions for plastic film testing
TAPPI T549 – Designed for evaluating paper-on-paper friction in packaging
ISO 15359 – Friction characteristics of paper and board

These standards define requirements for test speed, ambient temperature, sled mass, and surface preparation.

Download the ASTM D1894 standard overview

Applications across industries

Friction testing plays a vital role in multiple sectors:

Packaging – Evaluating slip agents in films to ensure smooth feeding on high-speed lines
Paper – Managing print quality and feed alignment by controlling surface friction
Automotive – Measuring material interface friction for seatbelt and trim fabric performance

For instance, in plastic film production, achieving a COF of 0.25 to 0.35 may ensure smooth film unwind without risking uncontrolled spooling.

See application examples in plastic packaging testing

Case studies and real-world examples

Mecmesin’s systems have been used across a range of industrial applications:

Toothbrush packaging – Friction testing was performed post-injection moulding to ensure consistent sliding resistance in shelf-ready trays
Snack food wrappers – COF measurement identified that over-application of slip additives was reducing seal reliability during high-speed packaging

These projects helped clients optimise material costs while maintaining production efficiency.

Watch the webinar on coefficient of friction testing

Mecmesin systems for friction testing

Mecmesin provides a suite of precision friction testers compliant with international standards:

FPT-H1 – A horizontal plane tester with manual and automated sled control
MultiTest-dV – Versatile force testing system capable of custom friction test setups
OmniTest – Advanced software-integrated platform ideal for R&D environments
VectorPro – Mecmesin’s intuitive analysis software that visualises and reports peak and steady-state forces with full traceability

Test fixtures and sleds are available for films, foils, paper, packaging trays, and other material interfaces.

Compare friction test platforms