Measurement of surface defects on thin steel wires by atomic force microscopy

The characterisation of surface defects on thin metallic wires is very important for the industrial applications of these wires. The physical dimensions of the surface defects presented by several thin steel wires of different diameters have been measured using Atomic Force Microscopy AFM.. The measurements made show two main defects in thin steel wires: holes and scratches, but other defects like porosity or protuberances have also been observed. We have found an empirical relationship between the physical dimensions of the scratches and the wire diameter. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.