Friction control article for wet and dry applications

A friction control article for use in defining a frictional interface between opposed contacting surfaces, the friction control article comprising:

• a backing layer having a first surface with the following characteristics:
• the first surface defined by an array of 100 to 10,000 upstanding stems/inch2, wherein each upstanding stem has the following characteristics:
• molded integrally with the backing layer out of an elastomeric material, having a shore hardness of less than about 90A,
• a height of less than 1.27 mm (0.050 inches), and
• a maximum cross sectional dimension of 0.003 to 0.030 inches,
• wherein the elastomeric material and stem geometry provide an array of highly flexible upstanding stems which establish a soft tactile feel on the first surface, and wherein such upstanding stems occupy no greater than 45% of the total area of the first surface, and
• a static coefficient of friction when dry of at least 0.6, and
• wherein engagement of the first surface with a second surface having the same characteristics as the first surface defined above yields a frictional interface having:
• a dynamic shear strength of at least 16,805 dynes/centimeter2,
• a peel strength of substantially zero, and
• a tensile strength of substantially zero.

A friction control article for use in defining a frictional interface between opposed contacting surfaces, the friction control article comprising:

• a backing layer having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface, the first major surface comprising a first friction control surfacing having the following characteristics:
• the first friction control surface defined by an array of 3500 upstanding stems/inch2, wherein each upstanding stem has the following characteristics:
• molded integrally with the backing layer out of an elastomeric material having a shore hardness of less than about 90A,
• a maximum cross sectional dimension of about 0.011 inches, and
• an aspect ratio of about 2,
• wherein such upstanding stems occupy no greater than 33.3% of the total area of first the friction control surface, and wherein the elastomeric material and stem geometry provide an array of highly flexible upstanding stems which establish a soft tactile feel on the friction control surface,
• a static coefficient of friction when dry of at least 0.6, and
• a static coefficient of friction when wet within 20% of its static coefficient of friction when dry, and
• wherein engagement of the first friction control surface with a second friction control surface having the same characteristics as the first friction control surface defined above yields a frictional interface having:
• a dynamic shear strength of at least 16,805 dynes/centimeter2,
• a peel strength of substantially zero, and
• a tensile strength of substantially zero.