Atomic Force Microscopy Friction and Wear Characterization for Composite Materials Coatings

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become established as a significant and versatile tool for investigating local mechanical properties of various materials. In addition, through the AFM tip-sample interaction, it has become possible to study the effects of perturbations and modifications to the surface of samples such as composite materials based on polymers that can ensure a transfer selective in the process of friction, trough formed an antifriction selective layer. The selective layer can get by friction between a surface of steel with a sample of composite material (polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) with added cooper oxide (Cup) in various greased media) and formed of very thin layer, tribological performed on surface of steel in which predominated Cu. The accurate knowledge of their response to the continuous AFM scanning could help to design new materials with desirable mechanical properties. In this paper, we present results obtained applying a new method to investigate friction and wear properties on the composite material PTFE/Cu2O. This material is used with high tribological performance at tightening the cylinders of motor vehicles and compressors of petroleum installations.