Surface roughness analysis
Your needs: characterize the surface of a material by analysing or measuring its roughness
The surface of a material is a vulnerable zone where numerous interactions with its environment take place. Its specific characteristics determine the overall performance of materials. It can have an impact on the reliability and strength of a product in the event of failure (corrosion, wear, adhesion, friction, etc.).
Furthermore, whatever the manufacturing process, the surface is not perfectly smooth. This can depend on various factors such as the machining method, the tools used and the materials. These materials have many irregularities that can be called defects. Together, these surface defects constitute roughness.
What is surface roughness?
Surface roughness is an analysis of the irregularity of a material's surface. This surface analysis refers to the quantity and height of asperities and deviations from an ideally smooth surface. It is measured in micrometers (μm) or angstroms (Å).
Surface roughness and its characteristics
Surface roughness describes the state of the surface of a material and can be divided into three aspects:
Shape : deviations over long periods or non-cyclic deviations
Roughness : irregularities with short intervals
Ripples: surface structure with longer intervals of irregularities.
A smooth surface is considered to have low roughness, while a very irregular surface has high roughness. Understanding roughness through surface roughness measurement is useful in the design and production of various objects, from microelectronics to automotive parts.
Why analyse the surface roughness of your materials?
Surface roughness can affect friction, adhesion, reflection of light from the surface, wear resistance and even electrical and thermal conductivity.
Too much roughness can lead to premature wear or damage to parts, while too little roughness can cause slippage or loss of adhesion.
Controlling surface roughness helps to ensure the quality and durability of finished products, as well as their compatibility with other parts. Advances in surface measurement and treatment technology have greatly improved the accuracy and reproducibility of roughness results.
Surface roughness is particularly important for metals, medical devices, ceramics, plastics and composites, as well as natural materials such as wood and stone.
Measuring roughness helps to ensure that materials have the right surface finish for their specific application. For example, in the aerospace or automobile industries, low roughness is one of the characteristics that can be used to reduce wind resistance and optimise performance. For the medical device sector, a suitably smooth surface can prevent the adhesion of bacteria and improve the biocompatibility of implants.
Our solutions: FILAB can help you measure surface roughness using its state-of-the-art equipment
Every production process has an impact on the quality of the surface, leading to the appearance of roughness. FILAB provides a range of services to help companies in the medical, aerospace and automotive industries deal with surface roughness issues. Every production process has an impact on surface quality, leading to the appearance of roughness. We provide our customers with our know-how and surface expertise, as well as an analytical laboratory equipped with cutting-edge equipment.
our services
AFM roughness analysis to provide high-resolution measurement of the surface topography of your samples.
XPS roughness measurement to characterise the surface chemistry of your samples
SEM-EDX roughness measurement to analyse the microstructure of your materials.
We offer a full range of roughness analysis services to help you understand the surface properties of your materials, particularly medical devices.
Whatever your application, our experience and expertise in surface roughness measurement can help you achieve your research and development objectives.
Our complementary surface analysis services
We offer surface finish analysis and surface finish characterization services to help you understand the precise properties of your materials. This understanding can help improve your production and product life, by minimising the risk of failure. Some examples of services offered by the laboratory:
Surface roughness analysis on DM by AFM, SEM-EDX, XPS
Surface relief measurement by profilometer
FAQ
To control the surface roughness of an industrial material, several types of surface roughness analysis can be performed by a specialized material characterization laboratory.
- Profilometry instruments, such as profilometers, are commonly used to measure fine surface variations
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) offer high or atomic resolution imaging, ideal for advanced precision applications
- Other complementary methods, such as Raman spectroscopy, are used for molecular-level surface analysis.
The choice of method depends on the product’s specifications, the material’s nature, and the level of precision required.
AFM or optical profilometry tests are used to ensure the safety and quality of medical implants by precisely measuring their surface roughness.
A surface that is too smooth can prevent proper adhesion, while excessive surface roughness may cause coating or coverage defects. Measuring surface roughness helps optimize painting, coating, or surface treatment processes. Laboratory testing also ensures compatibility between substrate and surface treatment.
In aerospace, surface roughness impacts aerodynamic performance, material fatigue, and coating adhesion.
A precise surface roughness analysis is often required to validate critical components and ensure compliance with strict industry standards.
In the plastics industry, surface roughness affects the visual appearance, slipperiness, and printability of materials. A surface roughness analysis helps verify the conformity of films, bottles, or thermoformed packaging.
Yes. With non-contact 3D optical microscopy, it is possible to characterize the surface roughness of hard or transparent materials like glass or ceramics without damaging them.
Stainless steel, widely used in the food and medical industries, requires an ultra-smooth surface.
A laboratory surface roughness test ensures the absence of areas prone to contamination or premature wear.
In aerospace and implantology, titanium components require optimized surface roughness.
AFM or optical profilometers allow for nanometric-scale readings of the smallest surface asperities.
Metals, plastics, composites, glass, and ceramics all require continuous surface roughness analysis to ensure quality and compliance.
A specialized surface characterization laboratory supports industries in meeting quality standards and regulatory requirements.
