Abstract
When measuring the sliding friction on highly compliant materials such as fabric batting and foam rubber, a substantial portion of the apparent friction is due to the deformation of the substrate. A new friction instrument consisting of a sled within a sled has been developed that eliminates the contribution of this deformation and provides the true sliding friction, as well as the force required to deform the substrate. The friction coefficient as measured using a conventional steel sled sliding on high loft polyester batts increased as the number of polyester batts increased. Using the new, guarded friction sled, the friction coefficient was independent of the number of supporting batts, thus separating the deformation forces from the sliding forces.