Long-term low friction maintenance and wear reduction on the ventral scales in snakes

Snake skins evolved to withstand permanent friction and wear during sliding. Here, the microstructure of ventral scales of the snake Lampropeltis getula californiae was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, and the long-term dynamic friction behavior was investigated by reciprocating sliding friction tests. A smooth epoxy resin with similar elasticity modulus and hardness was used for comparison purposes. Strong differences in frictional and wear mechanisms between the two materials were revealed in spite of similar mechanical properties. Snake skin showed a considerably lower frictional coefficient that kept stable over several thousands of sliding cycles. A reduction of the stick-slip behavior was also denoted by analyzing the variation of the friction coefficient in the forward and reverse motion influencing the wear mechanism. This frictional behavior can be explained by three different but complementary mechanisms: fibrous layered composite material of the skin with a gradient of material properties, surface microstructure, and the presence of ordered layers of lipid molecules at the skin surface. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Despite similar mechanical properties between snake skin and epoxy resin, strong differences in frictional and wear mechanisms were revealed. Snake skin exhibited a considerably lower and stable frictional coefficient over several sliding cycles. Reduction of stick-slip behavior and wear mechanism changes were observed by analyzing friction coefficient variation in forward and reverse motion.