When a ball-point pen is manufactured, an extremely hard ball of tool steel is inserted on the top. This is done to prevent its ink from flowing out easily while the pen is not being used. The ball, usually made of brass, is seated in a soft metal shank at the tip. This protects and prevents the ink from oozing out of the pen or getting dried up. This tip results in drying and hardening of the surface of the ink, therefore producing increased friction. However, once we start writing with the pen, this hardened layer gradually goes away and the liquid ink flows out easily, producing less friction.
Why does a new ball-point pen take some time before it writes smoothly?
