Surface Profiling and Topographie

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In parallel to the tribology test, a high resolution profilometer has been set up in order to assess the wearing surface. The apparatus from the firma ``Veeco'' is able to reach a subnanometer resolution for a surface of some square millimeters. It provides accurate, non-contact surface metrology with applications in R&D, process development, failure and wear analysis and process control. It provides surface details for applications in thick films, optics, ceramics, advanced materials, precision surfaces, micro-electronics and many more. It utilizes white light interferometry for the high resolution 3D surface height measurements, from sub-nanometer roughness to millimeter-high steps.Tools and software for quantifying and visualizing surface data are also included

It provides 3D-topography together with macros to calculate wear volumes on flat but also on spherical and cylindrical bodies. Scanning areas range from 0,3x0,2mm to 5,0x3,8mm. Highest resolutions are 0,5x0,5 µm in lateral and in vertical <0,1nm. The vertical scanning range may reach up to 1mm

Wear volumes

Wear volumes can be measured via this optical profiler: An example of a ball after a friction test can be seen on the image below. The original spherical surface of the ball was subtracted. The remaining peak refers to the volume of material which is sticking on the ball. This net volume on the ball can be calculated.