Scottish researchers study ice friction

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Scottish investigators say that studying ice and its interaction with other materials at the molecular level can help prevent slips and falls in wintry weather.

A team at the University of Edinburgh have developed an instrument called the Tribometer that measures the friction generated as rubber, metal and other materials are drawn across dry ice. The team then examines the ice samples with a low temperature scanning electron microscope.

Jane Blackford, the head of the team, said the group has already determined that ice temperature is a major factor in how slippery it is. Investigators hope that their work will lead to the development of car tires that are less prone to skidding and to shoe soles that will help their wearers stay upright on ice.

"I hope the data from this project will provide a bedrock of solid information that manufacturers can use to design more effective, slip-resistant surfaces, tailored to the specific ice conditions in which they will be used," she said.

Blackford's interest in ice and friction takes a number of directions. She was an adviser to the British curling team that won a gold medal in the 2002 Olympics in a sport that involves pushing stones on ice with a broom.