Contact pressure

Contact pressure is a force applied to join two materials together or to achieve a seal. Contact pressure is usually expressed in Newton per square metre (N/m²) or in bar (1 bar = 10^5 N/m²).

Contact pressure is used, for example, in mechanics to join machine parts together or to create a seal between two surfaces. In a screw connection, the contact pressure is generated by tightening the screws. Too little or too much force can lead to an insufficient connection or material damage.

Contact pressure is also used in electronics to ensure contacts between components. When installing computer processors or memory modules, it is important to apply the correct contact pressure to create a secure and stable connection.

Contact pressure is also an important factor in the manufacture of paper, where it is used to compress the paper fibres and create a smooth surface.