Friction Control Of A Gel By Electric Field In Ionic Surfactant Solution

We observed that the frictional force between acrylamide gel and silicon dioxide substrate is reduced upon application of electric voltage if the gel is swollen with anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate). The effect was not seen in cationic surfactant. We conjecture that the reduction is due to formation of a lubrication layer by electric field at the gel/solid interface.