The Microscopical Examination of the Roughness of Surfaces
THE MICROSCOPE
2020, Volume 68:2, pp. 51–58
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59082/HTUR4086
AUTHOR
John C. Russ
ABSTRACT
The examination of rough surfaces is commonly performed using various types of microscopes. Visual interpretation of the images is sufficient for many kinds of general classification, but for other purposes, some measure of the roughness is desirable. Techniques for measuring surface roughness that are commonly used in industrial quality control do not use microscopes or represent the actual surface geometry sufficiently, so it is important to consider what microscopy can contribute in this regard. The roles of different microscopes — including light, scanning electron, and atomic force — are considered in terms of the types of information available and the analysis procedures employed. This includes both vertical and lateral measurements.