Surface Metrology
Surface metrology refers to the measurement and analysis of a material’s topography (surface structure). Most often it concerns the characterization of surface roughness, the extent to which a surface deviates from being ideally smooth due to protrusions, recessions, irregularities, undulations with peaks and troughs, etc. These deviations from flatness are typically over a size scale from nanometers to micrometers.
Surface roughness can have an important influence on many interfacial phenomena, such as electromagnetic wave transmission and reflection, photoelectrical properties, electrical and thermal conduction, adsorption, adhesion, wetting, among others. These phenomena can play important roles in mechanical, electrical/electronic, thermal, fluid dynamic, chemical, and biological effects which are exploited for scientific and technical applications. In addition, surface roughness is critical for some manufacturing processes in specific industries, such as microelectronics, materials, automotive, aerospace, to name a few. In order to find the optimal specifications for these production processes, it must be understood how the roughness affects product performance. The ability to control roughness during fabrication can result in better process optimization leading to higher assurance of product quality and more cost-effective production.
Related Topics
-
Digital Microscopy with Versatile Illumination and Various Contrast Methods for More Efficient Inspection and Quality Control
State-of-the-art digital microscopes utilizing a versatile illumination system capable of achieving multiple contrast methods, such as the Leica DVM6, are very useful for inspection, quality control, and failure analysis. These contrast methods allow flaws or defects on the surface of a product or component to be more easily and rapidly detected.Read article -
Characterizing the Evolution of Plant-Eating (Herbivorous) Mammals Using Dental Tribology
The ecology of plant-eating (herbivorous) mammals is explored through dietary behavior. The Dental Microwear Texture Analysis (DMTA) is a method used to produce a set of dental data to reconstruct dietary habits. Scientists who study the fossil remains of animals (paleontologists) often try to identify the underlying mechanisms driving evolution. Frequently ecological and environmental models are reconstructed with this fossil data.Read article -
A Healthy Dose of Interferometry
Although interferometry may once have been dismissed by the medical community because of its inability to see inside the human body, its application within the wider biomedical arena is continuing to grow and evolve; so much so that the technique is now used in the production of prosthetic limbs, research in dentistry and even for cultivating stem cells.Read article -
Nanoscale or Microscale Structures Formed in Polymers Containing Nanotubes Greatly Enhance the Electrical Conductivity: Potential Applications for Photovoltaic Devices
The excellent mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes have led to them being exploited for the creation of a new class of high performance polymer composites. Due to important advances in the last few years, nanotube containing polymers have been developed for optoelectronic applications.Read article -
Characterization of Thin Films Using High Definition Confocal Microscopy
Thin film characterization technologies are in high demand, given the wide-spread use of coatings in all engineering and science fields. The properties of thin films can vary dramatically, i.e. thickness, optical and electrical properties, hardness, etc., that is difficult to find a general purpose characterization technique.Read article -
Anti-slip Treatment on Glazed Ceramic Tiles: Microstructural and Topographic Modifications
Porcelain stoneware is a product for which the synergy between the manufacturing technology and physical-mechanical properties has been particularly well developed with excellent results. Despite its excellent technical characteristics, the slip resistance can be significantly different depending on the tile surface finish: structured or smooth, glazed or polished.Read article -
An Innovative Non-contact Method to Determine Surface Free Energy on Micro-areas
Surface free energy (SFE) is a property which depends on the chemical state and roughness of the surface and it is necessary to develop a reliable method to evaluate SFE value on a small area, taking into account these two different contributions. Today contact angle methods are the most used and they allow to evaluate the global mean value of SFE on areas of mm2 size.Read article -
Surface Roughness of Flowable Resin Composites eroded by Acidic and Alcoholic Drinks
Acidic beverages, such as soft drinks (orange juice, and cola), or ethanol (whisky), can produce erosion of resin composites. The surface degradation of resin materials is related to the content and distribution of the fillers, the composition of the matrix resin, and the effect of silane surface treatment on the fillers.Read article -
The Effects of Peri-implantitis Decontamination Treatments on the Surface Roughness and Chemistry of a Titanium Alloy Used for Dental Implants: Implications for Bone Reintegration
Titanium (Ti) alloys are biocompatible materials which are often used for human implants, especially in dentistry. For this study, different types of odontological (dental) treatments for peri-implantitis, an infection of the gum and dental tissue around the implant, were performed on a Ti-6Al-4V (TAV) alloy, typically used for implants, to study the effect on its surface roughness and chemistry.Read article -
Brief Introduction to Surface Metrology
Surface metrology is the science that deals with measuring topography. Characterization of a surface with its amplitude, spacing and shape of its features, is called "topography". The term "topography" is derived from Greek roots; "topo-" meaning place and "graph-" describes a type of symbolic diagram.Read article -
Automated Digital 3D Topography Measurement with the Leica DCM 3D Dual Core Measuring Microscope
The precise measurement of surface structures and topography is the key thing during the production, control and development in many sectors of industry or research. Because very often there is not possible to use some contact methods for performing this task new optical methods based on interferometry and confocal technology started to be available for non-contact surface metrology in the recent years.Read article -
3D Surface Measurement: Characterization of Solar Cells
Solar energy is becoming more and more important all around the globe. Not only is it available in unlimited supply, it also offers key advantages for protecting the climate and the environment. Every year, many thousands of solar cells are produced worldwide for new photovoltaic plants. An important criterion for quality control is 3D characterization of the light-absorbing surface. In the past, this required time-consuming SEM analysis. A Dual-Core 3D Measuring Microscope that combines confocal and interferometry technology offers non-contact, high-precision analysis of the surface texture of solar cells in a matter of seconds.Read article -
No Defect Goes Undetected - Inspection of Micro-optic Components
Micro-optic components are used in a host of products concerned with illumination or imaging. Quality control of these components is challenging, as inspection has to be highly accurate yet non-invasive. Combining confocal and interferometric technology, the Leica DCM 3D Measuring Microscope is equipped to characterize these components with nanometer precision and ultra fast speed, despite the fact that they often have polished and curved surfaces that are difficult to examine.Read article -
3D Measuring Microscope Combines Confocal and Interferometry Techniques
In recent years, interferometers and optical imaging profilers based on confocal technology have been competing fiercely to conquer the non-contact surface metrology market. They are both capable of accurately and reliably measuring surface topographies on a millimeter to nanometer scale. Leica Microsystems presents a complete solution which combines both confocal and interferometry techniques: the Leica DCM 3D Dual-Core 3D Measuring Microscope.Read article