The stabilization of organic coatings by tin dioxide resulting in glass bottle lubrication was investigated on flat glass. The anchoring function of SnO(2) Was assessed for a mixture of polyethylene and polymethylmethacrylate. Friction tests in air confirm the SnO(2) anchoring property with the maintaining of the lubricant effect due to the polymer over large sliding distances. The persistence of the polymethylmethacrylate stretching band nu(C=O) on significant sliding distances in infrared microscopy experiments shows that the polymer coating stabilization results from the strong adhesion of the polymer on SnO(2). The impact of roughness and surface chemistry on the stabilization of the polymer coating was tested. The suppression of the lubricant effect by surface chemistry alteration or by roughness modification of SnO(2) suggests that roughness and Surface chemistry of SnO(2) are both necessary for lubrication. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.