16. Surface Probe Techniques

Study of surface properties is of significance in tribology since interaction between objects takes place at surface level and also surface properties are different than the bulk of the material. This chapter discusses about different surface probe techniques which are used to characterize the surface at nanoscale. Depending upon the interaction of the probe (electron/mechanical) with the sample, different techniques are developed. In case electron probe, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope are used to study surface as well as subsurface information. In case of mechanical probes, atomic force microscope and nanoindentation techniques are widely used in nanoscale tribology. Each of the above techniques is discussed in this chapter with the working principle to application along with the limitations. Finally, recent developments in real-time tribological studies or in situ techniques are discussed.