Sclerotopometric measurements assisted by statistical methodology for better understanding of abrasion

Studying different aspects of the abrasion phenomena since more than quarter of the century, the authors will try to demonstrate through illustrative examples that the abrasion as seen both from, a purely physical as well as from a chemical point of view, is very complex irreversible process. This process concerns surface layers not only as negative aspect of the abrasion (such as wear) but also in numerous machining technologies (honing, lapping, grinding, polishing, etc...) as positive aspect. The optimisation of the manufacturing processes and the characterisation of wear of new formulated materials requires the design of the new experimental tools and new research approaches for correctly mastered wear's and the processes kinetics estimation and if possible their prediction. The abrasion process treated in that context requires the introduction of totally modern approaches. The authors experimented and developed during the years new strategies for the optimisation of manufacturing processes aswell as of materials properties based on the use of:a toposclerometers assisted by experimental design and specific data treatments. The Toposclerometers, which combines instrumental "scratch test" and morphological analysis of removed and displaced material during abrasion, offers the possibility to quantify the corresponding energy. This specific energy of abrasion, as a rheological surface parameter measured on different (heterogeneous, homogeneous) materials and the influence of the environments conditions will be examined in order to optimise engineering materials and manufacturing processes.