Contact of elastic solids with rough surfaces

The effect of surface roughness on the adhesion of elastic solids was examined with artificially roughened surfaces and crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane). The amplitudes (sigma) and lateral correlation lengths (xi) of the surface roughness were determined with the height-height correlation function calculated from atomic force microscopy images. The work of adhesion (W) did not change significantly for surfaces where sigma less than or equal to6 nm. However, with increasing sigma and (xi (2)/sigma)(1/3), W increased. Maximal adhesion was found for surfaces that produced the greatest indentation. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1848-1854, 2001.