Correlation analysis of surface topography and its mechanical properties at micro and nanometre scales

This paper presents an investigation on the correlation between surface topography and its mechanical properties measured by a novel multi-function tribological probe microscope (TPM) at the micro/nanometre level. Four surface functions of topography, friction, nano-hardness and Young's modulus are measured over a range of materials, on a point-by-point basis using the TPM. The capability of multi-function mapping of the TPM allows the cross correlation to be carried out, in order to investigate the influence of one function on another, especially the surface topography's effect on its mechanical properties. A general negative correlation between surface topography and hardness/Young's modulus has been found for most homogeneous surfaces, which indicates a modulation effect of surface geometrical features on its mechanical properties.