The use of AFM for high resolution imaging of macroscopic wear scars

In this article we demonstrate the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements for the study of macroscopic wear scars. By stitching AFM images acquired over the wear scar, the detailed structure of the scar can be characterized even when the scar is much wider than the typical maximum scan range of the AFM (50–100 µm). The results obtained by AFM are compared with those yielded by white light interferometry (WLI). The comparison validates the WLI measurements; at the same time, it shows decisive differences in the resolutions of these two methods. As a consequence, AFM measurements are necessary whenever a precise characterization of the structure of the scar is required. However, since stitching of AFM images is rather time-consuming, white light interferometry is recommended as a faster method whenever experiments are aimed at just a gross characterization of the scar and the measurement of mean quantities (e.g. the wear volume).