Surface, the top most or outermost layer of a given material, is very much
influential in the initial interaction with other bodies or their surfaces. In tribological
applications, surface interaction is important, therefore, it needs to be treated or
protected for the improvement of properties. The surface treatment techniques are
significantly important as they enhance various properties of the material, such as
surface strength, surface hardness, surface roughness, friction and wear resistance,
chemical resistance, and corrosion resistance, etc. These surface properties are studied
with a wide range of characterization methods, such as the chemical composition of the
surface being analyzed with the energy dispersive, Auger electron, glow discharge,
optical emission spectroscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. The microstructure and
morphology of the surface are studied by using light optical microscopy, scanning
electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the present context, the
tribological characterization includes the evaluation of surface roughness, friction and
wear aspects of the surfaces from macro to nanoscale. The surface profile can be
assessed by using contact and non-contact type surface profilometers. The friction
aspects can be studied using a simple scratch tester or a multi-scale tribometer or by
measuring lateral forces in atomic force microscopy. This chapter covers the theoretical
aspects of various surface characterization techniques and tribological characterization
methods.
Keywords: Atomic force microscopy, Friction and wear, Microstructure,
Morphology, Optical, Profilometer, Scanning electron and transmission electron
microscopy, Spectroscopy, Surface, Tribological characterization.
