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Contributed Speaker

Mathieu Cognard

Product Manager - SPM Applications, Digital Surf, France

E-mail

mcognard@digitalsurf.com

Multi-scale characterization of a functionalized substrate using advanced surface analysis techniques

To support the transition toward cleaner and more efficient metal forming processes, we investigated dry-lubricated stainless steel surfaces using Mountains® software for advanced surface and mechanical analysis. Based on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), the proposed lubrication strategy aims to significantly reduce friction, wear and the industrial dependency on chlorinated or fluorinated oils, while maintaining high productivity and clean contact conditions.

Specialized data analysis workflows were employed to process and correlate a wide range of multi-scale datasets, including 3D surface topography, wear volume quantification through differential surface analysis and interpretation of force curves obtained during cyclic tribological testing. In particular, recently developed tools enable a detailed interpretation of contact stiffness (apparent Young’s modulus), as well as calculations of stored and dissipated energy throughout loading-unloading cycles. These indicators revealed subtle but critical differences in mechanical behavior between lubricated and dry surfaces under identical testing conditions.

The combination of visual, quantitative and mechanical analyses proved essential for tracking surface degradation, understanding the deformation mechanisms involved and validating the tribological benefits of SAM-based coatings on metallic substrates. By centralizing topographic, mechanical, and energetic insights within a unified framework, the software demonstrated its effectiveness as a powerful decision-making tool for the design and assessment of dry lubrication strategies in industrial metal forming applications.

Figure 1 (Left) Analysis of the volume of wear debris generated by a fretting tribological test. (Center) Stiffness mapping of a metal substrate treated with a dry lubricant. (Right) Analysis of material deformation and wear of an alternating pin-on-plane test.

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