Quantitative Characterisation of Surface Finishes on Stainless Steel Sheet Using 3d Surface Topography Analysis

Since the growth and improvement of digital computers there have been significant changesin the way that surfaces can be measured and viewed. The ‘parameter rash’ that occurred intwo-dimensional measurements [1] is being avoided by standardising 3 dimensionalparameters before the techniques have wide spread use. Huddersfield University is headingmuch of this standardisation work, with the support of the Commission of the EuropeanCommunities [2].As the usage of stainless steel increases quantitative surface characterisation of theproducts assumes greater importance. There is a demand for an expanded range of surfacefinishes for aesthetic reasons and also for a deeper understanding of tribological factors insheet metal forming and processing. To enhance further the degree of control over endproduct performance which can be exerted during strip processing, it would be advantageousto have a means of specifying and checking the surface properties by selecting parameters thatare relevant to the end functions.When the surface characteristics are determined, by means of parametric descriptors, thefunctional performance of the surface should be related to them. A measurement strategy forthe correct acquisition of data and an optimised sampling methodology is presented. Then theuse of the primary three dimensional parameter set [2] for characterising surface features oncold rolled stainless steel sheet is investigated.