Surface microtopography analysis in sliding friction of steel-ferrodo material pair

It is widely known that surface microtopography plays a considerable role in the friction and wear processes of machine components.
Ferrodo specimens were slided along steel specimens of various machining directions and different surface quality levels. In the meantime, topographical measurements were performed along the steel surface at the beginning, and at the end of the wear process.
Three different techniques were used for surface topography evaluation: parameter-based technique, slicing method, and power spectral density analysis. Several parameters were found to be sensitive to surface wear phenomena; their changes indicate, among other things, surface platoing or the appearance of dominant scratches. The peak radius of asperities and the their height convey important information for numerous tribological changes. The power spectral density (PSD) analysis shows, that the results of changes of the topography is an ‘equilibrium’ surface.