Detection of transferred materials and of flaws under glued steel sheet using tactile sensor

The evaluation of the stiffness variance (Young's modulus) of a substance transferred on a surface is important in clarifying lubrication and wear phenomena. In this study, a tactile sensor function is added to a stylus of a surface roughness meter, and a simultaneous measurement system that can be used to measure roughness and regionally detect a transferred thin substance is constructed. As a result, it is clarified that the oscillatory frequency of the sensor varies depending on the compound stiffness properties related to Young's modulus of the coating material and substrate. The observation of flaws existing under a glued steel sheet of 40 μm thickness, as well as the measurement of a region of a transferred thin substance, also becomes possible.