Positron annihilation studies of subsurface zones incopper

This paper presents the results of positron annihilation studiesof defect profiles in well-annealed copper samples whosesurfaces were exposed to wear and friction processes. The defectprofiles exhibited exponential decay. The dependence of thedefect distribution behavior on the load, duration of the pin-on-disc test, the temperature of the sample and the velocity ofthe ball were studied. The defect profile induced bytribotesting was compared with its analogues in samplessubjected to cutting or compression.